REGIME BOSSES
The Regime’s reign of terror has made its top level a very closed circle of peers, all of them aged well into their 70s and 80s with one older boss, Fidel Castro, who while out of office, serves to save the status quo. In an effort to stem criticism, it promoted a “young” 58 year old bureaucrat to the position of Vice President. Real power remains in the hands of the Castro family and the octogenarian politburo they control. All businesses are operated by the Castros, the military, or the octogenarian politburo elite. As you may note, most of the Regime’s opponents are younger, and many are darker-skinned.
Fidel Castro
The most brutal dictator in the Western Hemisphere, Castro came to power, when Fulgencio Batista abruptly left Cuba in 1959. Prior to taking office, Castro promised free elections, but once in power, he abolished all newspapers, free speech, and established a Stalinist communist dictatorship, responsible for over 70,000 deaths in Cuba, and countless more abroad. His death was celebrated in Miami and in Cuba and has left Raul Castro with slightly less control over his subordinates.
Raul Castro
Raul Castro has always been the Regime’s executioner both of people and plans. Fidel’s younger brother lacks the intelligence or respect of his older brother, but as the appointed successor, he has continued to rule Cuba. In consolidating his power, he has purged the regime’s ranks on occasion, while simultaneously sharing power with the octogenarian elite, and raising his son in law.
Luis Alberto Rodriguez
“General” Rodriguez Lopez-Callejas is the former son-in-law of Raul Castro and the man who controls most of the Cuban economy for the Castro family. He runs GAESA, the tourism conglomerate of the Castro family, from which he allegedly withdrew funds to purchase a yacht for his son. Venezuelan soldiers have testified that he was directly supervising drug shipments from Venezuela in 2017. He is the youngest of the power structure and often travels with Diaz-Canel to supervise the latter.
Miguel Diaz-Canel
Diaz Canel was appointed Vice President and is promoted to the international media as the Regime’s successor and its evidence that not all of its leaders are octogenarians. The 57 year old is by far, the Regime’s youngest member. DIaz Canel is however relatively symbolic figure having little actual power. Nonetheless, he can play a role in a post-castro climatic situation.
Ramiro Valdes
Known as the Butcher of Artemisa, this octogenarian is feared as the master of repressive strategies. Valdes has served on several occasions as Minister of the Interior, the position in charge of domestic repression, torture and counter-intelligence. He is the man used by the Regime to help the Chavez/Maduro regimes implement their own repressive mechanisms in Venezuela.
Ramon Machado Ventura
Ramon Machado Ventura is one of the Castro family’s most loyal men, and the Second-in-Command of the Communist Party. Machado is credited with being the person who persuaded the Regime to ban Christmas trees and decorations so as to maintain the Regime’s atheist state. Although he is well into his 80s, he is often referred to as “Machadito”.
Carlos Fernandez Gondin
Rodriguez, another veteran of the Regime, was one of the loudest voices supporting the execution of his comrade, General Arnaldo Ochoa. He was the Minister of Interior, the position tasked with political persecution, torture and repression until his death in 2017.
Leopoldo Cintra Frías
General Cintas Firas is the current Minister of Defense. As a member of the elite octogenarian club, he wields great power, and controls the armed forces. His decision to use force or refrain from it, can become a crucial point in the event of a climatic turning point. He was recently spotted in Syria.
Abelardo Colomé Ibarra (Furry)
Gen Colome Ibarra is no longer part of the Regime. He is said to have resigned for health reasons in 2015. However, speculation surrounds his unexpected resignation. He served in a number of key positions, including as the feared Minister of Interior.
