Cuban Government Concedes to Masonic Protests, Agrees to Hold Elections

The Ministry of Justice (MINJUS) in Cuba has been forced to allow the Grand Masonic Lodge to hold elections for a new Grand Master after a significant protest by the Masons against the regime-imposed leader. On Tuesday, in an unprecedented event in Cuban Masonic history, dozens of brethren gathered at the Grand Lodge of Cuba to protest the reinstatement of Mario Urquía Carreño as Grand Master, who had been expelled earlier this year by the Masons themselves following the disappearance of $19,000.

The Cuban Masonic community expressed their disapproval of the government's decision to reinstate Urquía Carreño, disregarding the will of the lodges, viewing it as a severe intrusion. In response, the Directorate of Associations of MINJUS—the same entity that had previously invalidated the expulsion of the Grand Master—has now indicated that elections will be repeated in accordance with the organization's statutes "and the will of its members."

MINJUS's Evaluation and Admission of Irregularities

According to a note shared by the state-run Cuban News Agency, a "thorough evaluation of decisions" taken by the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree for the Republic of Cuba and the Grand Lodge of Cuba was conducted regarding sanctions on members of Masonic bodies and the election of their leaders. MINJUS concluded that there were "irregularities due to non-compliance with internal statutes." However, the agency did not miss the opportunity to politicize the internal affairs of the organization by claiming that "Masonry in Cuba has been characterized by its Cuban identity, patriotism, respect for the laws, and proper relations with the Directorate of Associations of the Ministry of Justice."

During Tuesday's protest, as reported by the independent media outlet CubaNet, some Masons voiced their concerns about the government's intention to "dominate the Masons and eliminate all those of us who are inconvenient to the dictatorship." The gathering took place despite State Security pressures to cancel the event and amidst a heavy presence of plainclothes agents surrounding the building at the corner of Carlos III and Belascoaín avenues in Central Havana.

The Masons stood their ground at the Order's headquarters and articulated their reasons for being there: to communicate to Urquía Carreño their stance on the illegitimacy of the position he had usurped with the help of the state’s repressive apparatus, and to negotiate his departure to pave the way for a new management team to oversee the election of a new leader. "Cuban Masonry is making a very just claim regarding everything that is happening, and we consider Mr. Urquía Carreño to be a person of very low moral character to occupy the position of Grand Master and represent us, neither here nor anywhere else in the world," said Evelio Núñez from the Eureka Lodge.