Blank Check/Cheque Business in Cuba

Blank Check/Cheque Business in Cuba

As you all are aware that Cuba is a Socialist Country and all Trading Corporations, and Departmental Stores and Companies are owned by the Government. There are three prices for each product. One for the Cuban companies, one for foreign companies and one for common man. Let me explain this with an example. I wanted to buy two tyres for my car-Peugeot 406. Yo luchaba mucho para buscarlas( I struggled a lot to find them -English would not have given the same punch so I used Spanish). There was immense scarcity as these tyres are not very common in Cuba. The most popular versions are for LADA (Russian make car)which you can buy in the shops or por la izquerda ( euphemism for black market).Suddenly one day I succeeded to spot this ‘rare commodity ‘in one WHOLESALE GOVT Shop. Leaving aside all my assignments, I traveled there to buy them. To my utter surprise the sellers said that I can buy only with an office cheque. They added that the price is not known as still entries have to made, so they advised me to bring a blank cheque so as to fill in the correct price.

Later on they informed me about the prices -

For Cuban Companies- 86 CUC

For Foreign Companies- 110 CUC(28% more)

For individuals (they cannot buy in Whole sale shops but in retail shops)-156 CUC(81% more)

It was a very interesting experience to go there and return empty handed for various reasons like stock is over, stock is being entered in the register, prices have to be fixed, holiday, lunch time etc etc. Finally the D day came when everything was in place. Cuba is a classic example of Women empowerment . Every shop and place you will find beautiful young ( nobody is old in Latin America and Caribbean ) will greet you well, kiss your cheek(mode of greeting in Latin America) and talk to you in such a way that you both knew each-other since previous births!!!It will be a common feature to see a long queue of potential buyers with a blank cheque because cash is not accepted, individual cheque is not accepted, prices are not fixed/known till the time the computer making facturas (bills) flashes the right price in front of the beauty making the bill. My colleagues and Companeros Jose (2 Joses) were of great help in my suceess.

So Cuba is a land of blank check business. Welcome to Cuba with your fat checkbooks……..but from the Cuban bank!!