Sandro Castro Criticized by Cuban Regime Spokesperson: "He Deserves to Be Disdained"

On Wednesday, Pedro Jorge Velázquez, known as a spokesperson for the Cuban regime, launched a verbal attack against Sandro Castro, grandson of Fidel Castro. Amidst the ongoing power outages and severe economic and migratory crisis in Cuba, Sandro Castro chose this time to throw an extravagant birthday party in Havana, describing himself as a "young revolutionary."

In a Facebook post, Velázquez, a journalist educated in Las Villas, broke the silence typically maintained by state-run media. He boldly declared that "Sandro Castro deserves to be disdained." Velázquez argued that the young Castro is the antithesis of what the Revolution represents, contrasting his luxurious lifestyle with the modest life that the Revolution supposedly espouses. This is despite the opulent lives led by Mariela and Antonio Castro in Havana, and Manuel Anido Cuesta, the stepson of Díaz-Canel, in Madrid.

In a display of partisan elitism, Velázquez ousted Sandro Castro from the exclusive circle of Cuban communists. "He is not one of us," Velázquez stated, suggesting that Sandro's way of life is far removed from that of the average Cuban, 89% of whom live in extreme poverty. To Velázquez, Sandro Castro epitomizes the "vain bourgeois."

Hailing from Sancti Spíritus and host of the regime's propaganda project El Necio, Velázquez also contended that what irks Miami is not Sandro Castro himself, but his last name—Castro, synonymous with his grandfather, the dictator. According to Velázquez, Miami is more interested in tarnishing the Castro name than Sandro himself, with his flashy social media presence, his Mercedes Benz, poolside afternoons, bar, and now, his birthday celebration.

The Irony of Patriotism in the Communist Discourse

El Necio, speaking on behalf of all PCC militants, proclaimed, "We, the communists, the patriots, must disdain the way this new bourgeoisie presents itself, regardless of their surname. It’s not about names, it’s about ideas." This statement appropriates the term "patriot," often used by conservative parties in Europe, such as Spain's VOX and Hungary's Fidesz led by Viktor Orbán. Velázquez encouraged his cyber followers to shun Sandro Castro "with unity and popular strength," a reference to the diminishing resources left in Cuban households after prolonged blackouts.

Velázquez claimed that what Sandro Castro is doing would be incomprehensible to his grandfather, presumably convinced that Fidel Castro's taste for Rolex watches did not represent his preferences or financial means, though it starkly contrasts with his proclaimed asceticism.

The comments on Velázquez’s post are varied. Some believe that if Fidel Castro were alive, he'd be dismayed by his grandson's financial comfort. Others question the origins of the initial investment for Sandro Castro's bar in Havana, which presumably funds his luxurious lifestyle, all while the country rapidly descends into a Haitian-like state.

El Necio's post also provided a platform for hardline Stalinists to criticize micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (Mipymes), as if 65 years of Cuban hardship hadn't already shown that the communists misidentify the enemy on the island. The real struggle should be against poverty and hypocrisy, not wealth.

This entire controversy stems from Sandro Castro's birthday bash at his bar in Vedado (23, between E and F), where a white dress code was enforced. As the promotional poster described it, the event was the "party of the year," overshadowed by Díaz-Canel's blackouts.