Havana, Cuba, Fri. Apr. 16, 2021– Raul Castro, leader of the Cuban Communist Party, has announced his resignation as party leader at Cuba’s latest Congress sitting on Friday. Raul has been the party leader for 15 years and served as acting president of Cuba from 2006 up to 2018 — a position that he inherited from his brother, Fidel Castro, after Fidel fell sick.
The Castro name has been synonymous with Cuba’s national identity. Castro’s resignation will mark the first time since 1959, that someone other than a Castro will govern the country. This ends a historic six-decade rule that has sent ripples throughout the Caribbean and the Americas.
Despite Castro not having endorsed a successor, it is widely believed that the Cuban president and Castro’s protege, Miguel Díaz-Canel, will assume the position. His successor will be voted in at the end of the four-day congress event.
Castro’s successor will have no easy task. Cuba currently faces the worst economic crisis since the passing of Fidel, and despite the improvement of the country’s relations with the US since his brother’s passing, its standing has slumped following sanctions the US’s previous Trump administration had put in place.
Despite his resignation, Castro promises to remain a focal part of Cuba’s development. In his speech at the congress event, Castro said, “I believe fervently in the strength and exemplary nature and comprehension of my compatriots, and as long as I live I will be ready with my foot in the stirrups to defend the fatherland, the revolution and socialism.”
Cuba and Belize have had a long-standing diplomatic relationship. Cuba has persistently supported Belize in sports, by sending skilled coaches that aid in player development; in education, via scholarships; and through health, by sending numerous healthcare professionals that boost Belize’s emergency medical response. Additionally, Cuba has played a major role in Belize’s road to Independence. Cuba was the first Latin American country to openly support Belize’s independence and lobbied for other Latin American countries to recognize Belize’s sovereignty.