Food shortages concerns in Cuba

There are concerns of food shortages in Cuba, after upscale grocery stores that were scheduled to close for two days last week, remained shut yesterday.



More than a dozen stores in Havana that had been run by the now-defunct firm Cubalse, closed last Thursday to tally merchandise before they were transferred to the new managing company, TRD Caribe.



The change is part of a government effort to streamline bureaucracy.



However, the closings have raised fears of less merchandise and higher prices.



In recent weeks, grocery vendors have been complaining they have not received shipments since the government dissolved Cubalse in June and cancelled its contracts with international exporters.