A well-known Canadian hairstylist is murdered while sightseeing in Varadero

A barber residing in the city of Winnipeg, Canada, was murdered on March 2 while visiting Cuba on a tourist vacation.

Rui Andrade, as the deceased was named, was apparently a victim of a robbery, described his brother Paulo on Facebook.

Paulo commented that his brother was found in the peninsula city with a "deep cut on his left arm" that affected an artery, and he said that he died shortly after being transported by ambulance to a local hospital.

According to the Facebook profile “Cuba primero”, the incident occurred on 59th Street, near the old museum.

Paulo wrote: “He was robbed and that person took his life”, and he also pointed out that as of that incident, there were still no arrests made by the Cuban authorities, from whom he expected greater cooperation.

Aura Hair Group, of which Rui was a part of the team of stylists, expressed sorrow over the event that has cast a shadow over this Canadian family, following the sudden loss of one of its members in Cuba.

“Rui dedicated many years to our team, bringing passion, kindness, and undeniable talent to everyone who sat in his chair. His warmth and laughter will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and the clients who entrusted him with more than just their hair—he was a true friend to many,” they noted in their message.

Similarly, Canada's Global Affairs stated in a statement sent to CityNews of Winnipeg that “consular officials in the country are providing assistance to the family of the Canadian citizen”.

This Tuesday, relatives and friends of Rui Andrade gathered at the Cemetery of the Assumption to offer their condolences for his passing and were later invited to a celebration of life at Dos Acores on Higgins Avenue.

The incident has sparked a wave of comments that call into question the safety of tourists on the Island.

After identifying the murdered individual, the page on Facebook “Crimes and Disappearances in Cuba” stated that “Canadian authorities are warning their citizens not to travel to Cuba due to the lack of existing security and anyone who does so will be at their own risk.”

In Pablo's obituary, a person commented that “people need to be aware that Cuba is not as safe as we like to believe. Tourists have the impression that it is, sadly Rui and his family became victims of this horrible assumption”.

Another person stated that “from what I can see/say, as an outsider I believe the media just wants to warn people. It seems that something is happening, not very good in hotels in Cuba”.

This murder is not an isolated incident in a country where violence rates are rapidly increasing, without discrimination between locals and foreigners. For instance, in 2020, the body of a 52-year-old Canadian woman who was on vacation in Varadero was found buried on the beach and showing signs of violence.

The victim, identified as Antoinette Traboulsi, was a nurse and mother of three who lived in Montreal, a city in the province of Quebec. Her family had reported her missing.

According to official sources, the woman was buried in the sand at a depth of one meter, with bite marks on her chest and a heavily beaten face.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tourist Safety in Cuba