Cuba marks Castro centenary as crisis tests revolutionary legacy

Cuba is observing the 100th birth anniversary of Fidel Castro, the revolutionary leader who governed the island for nearly five decades, amid one of the worst economic crises in its recent history. State-sponsored exhibitions, concerts and conferences have been held through the week to honour the late commander, but the commemorations on August 13 are overshadowed by acute shortages of food and water, chronic power cuts and soaring prices.

For many Cubans, the current hardships highlight the absence of a leader who died a decade ago. Leonel Suarez, a 54-year-old collector of revolutionary memorabilia, reveres Castro as “the master.” He said, “Fidel would have a strategy at a time like this.” Yet the economic strain has forced him to accept $100 from a foreign visitor for a photograph of his hero, explaining, “You have to live.”

Rogelio Valdivia, a 54-year-old repairman in Old Havana, describes himself as a genuine “Fidelista.” Born under the Revolution, he credits it for giving him a path in life. But he laments the absence of Castro’s leadership today. “Fidel is no longer here, and nobody has the ability Fidel had,” he said.

Angela Gutierrez, 86, belongs to the generation that benefited from the Revolution’s free healthcare and education. Now she feels “disappointed” by the country’s direction. After visiting market stalls without buying anything due to high prices, she asked, “Why do they keep cutting the power so much? They’re ruining things.” For her, the social protections that once defined the Revolution have all but disappeared.

Castro’s critics argue that the current crisis is not due to his absence but is a consequence of the system he created. Manuel Cuesta, a 63-year-old historian and opposition activist, said he once saw Castro as a “redeemer” who made Cuba what it aspired to be. Over time, that image faded as living conditions drifted from the Revolution’s promises. Today, he believes many Cubans view Castro as the “original architect of this national disaster.”

Hassan Perez, a historian and former close collaborator of Castro, acknowledged that the centenary arrives under “the most complex conditions that could have been imagined.” He noted that the social contract forged by the Revolution has “eroded” in recent years. For decades, Cuba provided social protections in exchange for strict political discipline, but many now question whether that bargain still holds.

Despite the hardships, affection for Castro endures among some Cubans. Mildred Barreto, a 66-year-old cleaner, still calls him “comandante,” but admits life is a struggle. “We suffer a lot now,” she said, adding, “With our comandante, it wasn’t like this.” Her words reflect the sentiment of many who remain loyal to the revolution’s ideals, even as they grapple with its present-day realities.