Castro Replaces His Minister of Culture

HAVANA TIMES — Raul Castro dismissed Wednesday his Minister of Culture, Rafael Bernal, after two years in office; no reason was given, reported dpa news.

Bernal, 69, who “will be assigned other duties” was immediately replaced with the current deputy minister, Julián González Toledo, 52 , said the government in a brief official statement.

The outgoing minister replaced Abel Prieto as head of the island’s Culture in 2011, after Prieto held the post for 15 years.

Bernal’s departure comes just days after the disclosure of the theft of dozens of valuable works from  the Museum of Fine Arts in Havana.

The Cuban National Cultural Heritage Council reported the missing paintings without specifying the exact number of stolen items after some of the works were being offered for sale in Miami.