In explaining the reasons for demanding the 30 percent price reduction and price freeze, economist Maribel Gordón, spokeswoman of the Pueblo Unido por la Vida, or People United for Life alliance, one of the organizations on strike, explained that it is also key to regularize the margins of marketing and distribution in the supply chain.

She also underlined the demand to dignify the national producer and the conformation of a list of 82 products under price control to buy them in all the stores of the regional areas without conditions.

According to Executive advisor Oscar García, the price of the basic food basket last June was 289.92 dollars and with this proposal it would go down to 80.73 dollars.

On the other hand, the Depurty Minister of Commerce and Industries, Omar Montilla, appealed to progress of negotiations and the effort by the Government to reach a majority agreement regarding the proposals requested by unions and other organizations, for which he requested the lifting of road blockades.

The Ombudsman’s Office also urged the administration of President Laurentino Cortizo to provide tranquility to the country, where continuous protests against the high cost of living and corruption generate anxiety among the population and are causing violence.

Meanwhile, the private business sector requested to be included in the dialogue table, which was opposed by the social collectives, which allege the methodology regarding the participants, established in the conversations in which the Catholic Church acts as facilitator.

High fuel prices, the crisis in the Social Security Fund, the fight against corruption and the designation of 6 percent of the Gross Domestic Product to the educational system, are some of the issues still to be discussed in these prolonged negotiations, initiated last Thursday.

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