Mario Alberto Urquía Carreño, who served as the Grand Master of Freemasonry in Cuba amidst growing discontent, finally presented his resignation on August 18 after at least seven months of intense disputes within the island's Masonic community.
Despite clinging to his position even after being previously expelled from the Order, Urquía Carreño made the decision following pressure from Cuban Masons who demanded his resignation due to increasing internal divisions.
“Before allowing the existing division to further harm the Institution and increase the attacks through social media, which would further denigrate the Grand Lodge of Cuba by its enemies, this Grand Master resigns for the good of the Institution,” Urquía Carreño stated in an official communiqué, as reported by the independent media outlet Cubanet.
Reasons Behind the Resignation
Regarding the reasons for his resignation, Urquía Carreño indicated that there is “an incompatibility in criteria for the correct application and interpretation of our laws” within the Masonic institution, leading to “divided opinions in our Lodges regarding the correct procedures.”
He further lamented that “hatred and insults have erupted among brothers, forgetting that we swore to defend each other, present or absent. The institutional situation today shows a dire division. Some Masons' actions indicate a growing danger of confrontations, and we will not allow this to happen; misunderstanding has subjected our brothers.”
The resignation came after a meeting with over a hundred Masons at the Grand Lodge of Cuba, an event convened by Urquía himself. The Masons gathered in the theater of the Grand Lodge building, where an anonymous source consulted by the cited media described that Urquía intended to manipulate the attendees. However, the Masons present did not allow it, and the unanimous phrase heard was “hand it over and leave.”
One of the meeting's witnesses recounted that tensions escalated to the point where Urquía left the theater but was followed by the Masons to the eleventh floor, where his office is located.
Under the pressure of those present, the Grand Master agreed to meet with a representation of them. During two hours, the terms of his departure were negotiated, although the details of those conversations remain secret.
Finally, Mario Urquía agreed to resign, and Deputy Grand Master Maykel Filema was appointed in his place. Filema will have the task of calling for elections in the next High Chamber session, scheduled for September.
Urquía's resignation is seen as a victory by the Masons. The problems began with the mysterious theft of $19,000 from the Grand Master's office, an event that culminated in his expulsion from the Order.
Despite this, the Cuban Ministry of Justice, in an act of interference permitted by the country's laws, did not recognize the expulsion and reinstated Urquía in his position in less than three months. This led to a massive protest by Masons outside the Grand Master's office on July 23 and caused dozens of lodges to rebel.
In recent days, Mario Urquía spoke in a video explaining that the stolen money belonged to the National Masonic Asylum and addressed the accusations against him, including those of treason and theft. Urquía Carreño categorically denied being responsible for the theft and clarified that the police document he signed, committing to return the money, did not imply an admission of guilt.
He explained that the delay in returning the sum was due to the need to comply with Cuban laws, which require the reimbursement to be made in Cuban pesos (CUP), resulting in a considerable loss due to the disparity with the dollar's value in the informal market.
The Grand Master also questioned the initial communiqué issued by the National Masonic Asylum's Board, calling it “incriminatory.” He emphasized that he had already made a deposit of 270,000 CUP, equivalent to $1,000, as a sign of his commitment to return the funds. Despite his intention to remain in the position, Mario Urquía ultimately had to yield to the pressure to resign.
Understanding the Controversy Surrounding Mario Urquía
This section answers some key questions about Mario Urquía's resignation and the controversies that led to it.
Why did Mario Urquía resign as Grand Master of Freemasonry in Cuba?
Mario Urquía resigned due to internal pressure and growing divisions within the Masonic community in Cuba. He cited incompatibility in the application and interpretation of Masonic laws as a key reason.
What led to the tensions within the Masonic community?
Tensions escalated due to allegations of theft and mismanagement, leading to Urquía's initial expulsion from the Order, which was later overturned by the Cuban Ministry of Justice, causing further unrest.
Who replaced Mario Urquía as Grand Master?
Deputy Grand Master Maykel Filema was appointed to replace Mario Urquía and will call for new elections in the next High Chamber session in September.