Cuba marks Fidel Castro's centenary as islanders split on his legacy
Cuba prepares to mark Fidel Castro's 100th birthday, with citizens divided between nostalgia and blame amid a deep economic crisis.
Havana is preparing to mark what would have been the 100th birthday of Fidel Castro, the revolutionary leader who ruled Cuba for five decades. His bearded image remains ubiquitous across the island — on banners in hospitals, workplaces and government offices, and in the memories of a generation that grew up with his marathon speeches and surprise public appearances.
Castro, who died in 2016, had asked that no statues be erected and no avenues named after him. Yet his presence endures in the daily life of the country, and Cubans still refer to him simply as "Fidel."
For some, the centenary is a moment of gratitude. Argelia Mustelier, a 61-year-old resident of Old Havana, spoke with emotion about the former leader. "What can I say? In these very difficult times that we are living through, we all remember him. The grateful ones are with you," she said.
Others, particularly younger Cubans, see little to celebrate. Cristian Cohello, a 27-year-old pizza chef, was blunt: "What remains of Fidel Castro right now, of what he left behind, nothing; absolutely nothing." He added that the country's current crisis has no solution, saying, "Even if they brought another Fidel, they wouldn't be able to fix this."
Dissident Manuel Cuesta Morúa offered a more analytical critique, arguing that Castro's political legacy was flawed. "One of the negative legacies of Fidel Castro is that he did not leave behind people with a statesman's mind or political vision," he said. "He left behind people who are very ambitious, who want power at any cost but lack a vision of the state."
The centenary coincides with a severe economic crisis, worsened by a US energy and financial blockade imposed in January. Cubans are facing power outages, fuel and medicine shortages, and the near-halt of industry and tourism.
Castro formally ruled from 1959 until illness forced him to hand power to his brother Raúl in 2006. He died on 25 November 2016. His radical policies drove many from Cuba's affluent classes into exile in the United States, and later alienated those who rejected one-party rule.
As the island marks his birth, the divide between those who revere him and those who hold him responsible for today's hardships remains as sharp as ever.