The new Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Cuba, Mayker Filema Duarte, has reported another alleged theft, in this case of two million CUP, which also occurred during the months when the former Grand Master Manuel Urquía was in charge of the institution, during whose tenure an additional 19,000 dollars were also lost.
According to Special Circular No. 127, sent to the Cuban lodges on September 6 and signed by Grand Master Filema Duarte - a document accessed by Cubanet - at least 2,116,555 pesos and 33 cents were illegally withdrawn from the accounts of the Grand Lodge of Cuba between January and August 2024.
The amount equals 17,637 dollars according to the official exchange rate in Cuba of 1 CUP for 120 USD.
The document reveals that the embezzlement would have been carried out by the former Grand Treasurer Airam Cervera Reigosa in collusion with the former Grand Master Mario Alberto Urquía Carreño.
The discovery took place after Grand Master Filema Duarte ordered a financial audit upon discovering that Cervera had transferred funds from the Grand Lodge to his personal self-employed bank account.
After the discovery, Filema Duarto proceeded to suspend Cervera's Masonic rights and sent him to the Supreme Masonic Court for processing.
During the investigated period, Cervera Reigosa made seven bank transfers from the accounts of the Grand Lodge: three to his personal account, totaling 2,029,110 CUP, and four to three other individuals for a value of 87,445 CUP.
The former Grand Treasurer is also accused of having digitally manipulated the institution's bank statements, eliminating transactions to later present forged versions to the accountant, in order to cover up his embezzlement.
The same circular indicates that the former Grand Master Mario Urquía would have been an accomplice to the crime, as both would have falsified an invoice and advised the institution's accountant to record the theft of 2,700 dollars as a loss.
The Grand Lodge has already filed a formal complaint with the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) to prevent Cervera and Urquía, who planned to travel abroad, from leaving the country.
The mentioned source reveals that Airam Cervera Reigosa was appointed Grand Treasurer by Mario Urquía, following Urquía's appointment as Grand Master in March 2023.
The total amount of the embezzlement at the Grand Lodge of Cuba has now reached over 40,000 dollars, according to the official exchange rate used by legal institutions on the island.
Crisis in Cuban Freemasonry
The problems began with the mysterious theft of $19,000 from Mario Urquía's office in January of this year, an event that culminated in his expulsion from the Order.
Despite this, the Ministry of Justice of Cuba, in an act of interference permitted by the country's laws, did not recognize the expulsion and reinstated Urquía in his position in less than three months.
That fact provoked a massive protest by Freemasons outside the office of the Grand Master on July 23 and led to the insubordination of dozens of Cuban lodges.
Urquía Carreño categorically denied being responsible for the theft and clarified that the police document he signed, committing to return the money, did not imply an admission of guilt.
He explained that the delay in the refund was due to the need to comply with Cuban laws, which require that the reimbursement be made in Cuban pesos (CUP), resulting in a considerable loss due to the disparity with the value of the dollar in the informal market.
On August 18, Urquía Carreño, who served as Grand Master of masonry in Cuba despite growing discontent against him, finally submitted his resignation after at least seven months of intense disputes within the island's Masonic community.
Although Urquía Carreño clung to the position, despite having been previously expelled from the Order, he made the decision after pressure from Cuban Masons, who demanded his resignation due to increasing internal divisions.
The resignation came after a meeting with more than a hundred Freemasons at the Grand Lodge of Cuba, a gathering called by Urquía himself.
After much pressure and a growing gathering at the meeting, Mario Urquía agreed to resign and in his place, Deputy Grand Master Mayker Filema was appointed, who has the task of calling for elections in the next High Chamber session, scheduled for this September.
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