Cuba revives dollar-only stores, sparking debates of inequality: Video
In Cuba, economic disparities are becoming more visible with the return of dollar-only stores, where access to goods depends on one's ability to pay in foreign currency.
Michael, a 40-year-old math teacher in Havana, recently experienced this firsthand while shopping with his son. As they entered a newly opened store located on the ground floor of a luxury hotel in the upscale Miramar neighborhood, they were immediately informed that purchases could only be made in U.S. dollars.
"We had barely set foot inside when they told me payment was in dollars," Michael told AFP, declining to provide his last name.
The state-owned supermarket, which opened in January, is the first of several planned dollar-denominated stores aimed at reviving Cuba’s struggling economy. While officials see these stores as a means to attract much-needed foreign currency, their existence highlights growing inequality, as many Cubans who earn in the local peso find themselves unable to shop in these exclusive outlets.
