Sandro Castro Shows His Class, Again

By Francisco Acevedo

HAVANA TIMES – Talking about repulsive characters is fairly common in this space because I have no choice, but one who particularly infuriates me is Sandro Castro, Fidel Castro’s grandson.

Sure, I might be labeled envious, but that’s not the case. If the young man had earned what he has through his own effort, I would feel admiration. But we all know that’s not the case; none of what he possesses came from his studies or hard work, but rather from the immense privileges that come with his lineage.

The worst part is that he flaunts it to the entire world simply because he can’t keep quiet. He loves being the center of attention, even if it means facing a slap from his grandmother or a scolding from another equally parasitic but more modest and intelligent relative who knows how to keep a low profile.

Sandro just can’t help himself, and this week, images of his birthday party went viral. The event took place amid Cuba’s dire reality, which had already been precarious for months but was made much worse by Hurricanes Oscar and Rafael. These storms added to blackouts across the country, the most recent of which occurred just hours before his lavish celebration.

Incidentally, it’s not just birthdays that are celebrated in such ostentatious style; any date is an excuse for a capitalist-style party—Halloween, Thanksgiving, you name it. Moreover, what’s on offer at this venue isn’t what’s available in other businesses run by genuine entrepreneurs who are regularly scrutinized and can’t even stock the most expensive whiskeys—sometimes not even the luxury hotels in Varadero can manage that.

Amid his revelry, Sandro posted a video—deleted almost immediately—in which he boasted about drinking a $600 bottle of rum, for example.

This so-called “revolutionary” Cuban, who believes he deserves to celebrate his birthday, laughs in the faces of ordinary Cubans. It’s a true affront to decency; the display of such opulence is not only a provocation but also a stark reminder of the deep inequalities that exist within a system that once aspired to be egalitarian.

The cost to enter this particular party at Bar EFE required a minimum spend of 15,000 Cuban pesos—more than three times the average monthly salary in Cuba. And it took place just hours after the second total shutdown of the National Electric System in less than two months. This time, the widespread blackout lasted less time but still resulted in a forced labor recess.

“Thanks to everyone who came, beautiful, humble people—great my Cuba,” Castro himself expressed in an Instagram story. Sandro, there was nothing humble about that crowd, let’s be honest.

It’s worth noting that on normal days, any day of the week, a shot of Tequila Rose at Bar EFE costs 2,000 Cuban pesos, just to mention something that was part of the welcome to this absurd spectacle.

The event’s main organizer was a young man named Carlos Rogelio Bolufe, known in showbiz as Carlucho (the original Carlucho must be fuming in Miami) or Carluchín Verde, the son of Rogelio Bolufe, a State Security agent who infiltrated Miami pretending to be an opponent of the Cuban dictatorship.

The younger Bolufe, speaking without a filter, said in a promotional video for the party, “The country can sink, but we’re celebrating.” Just like that—because, after all, none of it affects him.

I don’t think this is the “creative resistance” that President Miguel Diaz-Canel refers to. Evidently, the effects of the US embargo aren’t felt here.

One of the few who had the courage to criticize this absurdity was comedian Ulises Toirac, known for his critical reflections on Cuba’s reality.

In a lengthy Facebook post that went viral, Toirac pointed out the inconsistency between the traditional political discourse of austerity and sacrifice and these opulent lifestyles.

“That money comes from what they steal from me through countless means (and from you, and from the guy selling ‘little ice cream sandwiches,’ and from the old lady whose pension isn’t enough to buy lunch for the first week), or from the indirect bribery of their parents. Let’s take off the mask: as I’ve said before, the only source for that money is theft or bribery.”

The comedian went further, writing: “They weren’t born into golden cribs. Or they shouldn’t have been, because the gold in those cribs would be ill-gotten, taken from the state coffers for personal use.”

The worst part is that Sandro isn’t alone in this. Mariela Castro, Antonio Castro, and Manuel Anido Cuesta, Diaz-Canel’s stepson, have also been frequently criticized for enjoying luxuries and privileges beyond the reach of most Cubans. What sets Sandro apart is not his access to luxury but his shamelessness in flaunting it.

This culture of impunity is reminiscent of what happened in the former Soviet Union, where, after the collapse of the socialist bloc, many Communist Party members became millionaires by exploiting their positions of power prior to the downfall.

This display of elite privilege starkly contrasts with the reality of the general population, left wondering whether power outages will allow them to have a “normal” December and end of the year. For now, the answer is no, as the programmed power cuts continue as rigorously as if it were March. But, of course, Bar EFE isn’t part of that reality.

Read more from Cuba here on Havana Times.