Bolivia: sectors protest the lack of dollars, fuel and price increases

The sectors of transporters, farmers and activists of Bolivia They protested this Friday against the lack of fuel, dollars and the increase in the price of some basic products and asked the Government of Luis Arce to take timely measures to overcome what they consider to be a “economic crisis”.

A few days ago, heavy transport drivers blocked the main roads of the country in demand of fuel and dollars, while for the following days a march of merchants towards Peaceseat of the Executive and Legislative.

This week the rise in tomato prices, which quadrupled in some areas of the country, was a concern, since this vegetable is central to the country’s gastronomy and its cost is a topic of debate in public opinion.

In Santa Cruz, the largest and most populous city in the country, urban transporters marched through the city center and tried to reach the regional offices of the state-owned Yacimientos Petrolófilos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), but were contained by the Police.

This sector seeks the supply of diesel “permanently” at the fuel stations and that for a few weeks now “They are not providing a regular service“said leader Segundo Ricaldi.

Also, he stated that about 40% of the minibuses keep vigil at the pumps. fuelso they demand exclusive recharge sites, since otherwise they will go “massifying” his protest.

This day there was also Santa Cruz a ‘cacerolazo’ at the doors of the city’s cathedral and that was the preview of a greater claim that will be made on Monday.

Activist Pamela Flores mentioned that there is a lot of discomfort “due to the (high) prices of the family basket” like the pound of tomato that went from 5 bolivianos to 18 (from 0.43 to 2.41 dollars) and the bottle of liquefied petroleum gas that went from 23 bolivianos to 70 (from US$ 3 to US$ 10).

Likewise, the acting president of the Eastern Agricultural Chamber (CAO), Klaus Frenking, proposed that the Government take five urgent measures to overcome the “crisis” and the “difficult economic situation” that crosses the country.

Frenking pointed out that his sector can generate US$ 1,000 million dollars “additional” if adjustments are made to guarantee the legal security of producers or access of biotechnology for “produce more and better“, among others.

Government actions

The Government carries out border controls to prevent various foods from being smuggled out of the country to Argentina and Peruin addition to enabling some popular food sales fairs “at a fair price”.

Daniel Vargas, Vice Minister of Fight Against Smuggling, declared that apart from the controls, the “production processes” of tomato and onion and that they have become more expensive, but that will be adjusted with the new crops.

For his part, the Vice Minister of Consumer Defense, Jorge Silva, mentioned that the “possible places where speculation is being committed” have been identified and that criminal proceedings have been initiated for these events.

Bolivia has been suffering from a lack of dollar liquidity since the beginning of 2023, something that coincided with official reports that showed a decrease in net international reserves (RIN), which in 2014 reached US$ 15,122 million.

The authorities assured at the time that the lack of dollars was the product of a “speculative attack” and they maintain that the situation was normalizing, which is rejected by users of the Finance system.

Refering to lack of fuelYPFB authorities have assured that the lines at gas stations are due to “speculations” and that the supply is normal.