Just hours after the government-affiliated site Cubadebate announced in a sponsored post that the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune, located in front of the United States Embassy in Havana, could be rented "for parties, meetings, fairs, and events of all kinds" for up to 28,000 pesos daily, the website removed the announcement, raising questions about whether the Cuban regime has backtracked or is attempting to discreetly reformulate the proposal.
According to the deleted notice published as "sponsored content," the iconic venue opened its covered and outdoor areas for rental by individuals and legal entities for activities "cultural, political, educational, sports, and similar."
The fact that it is a symbol of the ideological discourse of the regime during the Battle of Ideas sparked controversy on social media.
In response to the uproar, the official Pedro Lizardo Garcés Escalona, president of the Rampa Popular Council in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality, reacted on Facebook to clarify the situation, although he did not directly mention Cubadebate.
He pointed out that some publications have approached the topic as if the Tribuna were "up for auction or sale," which, according to him, is a distorted view of what has actually been discussed.
In his message, Garcés explained that the Tribuna has been seeking economic sustainability alternatives for some time, due to the wear and tear caused by the marine environment and the budgetary constraints of the State.
In that context, it was proposed to rent three indoor halls of the venue for meetings or events of state institutions, which had previously been offered for free, despite those entities "having a budget for it."
The official assured that the foundational political and social purpose of the site has “never” been discussed for transformation, and that any rental use would only proceed if it does not interfere with already scheduled community or political activities.
"The Tribune will not be subject to leasing for private interests that are unrelated to its original purpose or do not contribute to the culture of this community," Garcés asserted, emphasizing that the principles for which it was founded "will not be violated."
In several previous posts on Facebook, Garcés publicly denied a note published by Cubadebate regarding the commercial rental of the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune.
“She will continue to be a space for denouncing the issues faced by our people (...) I refute what has been published regarding her leasing and assure that she will remain the podium for Fidel and the people of Cuba. We continue the fight!” wrote Garcés Escalona on the social network Facebook.
The local leader, whose area of responsibility includes the iconic space, responded firmly to a promotional note circulated by the aforementioned official portal, a medium run by journalist Randy Alonso, with whom Garcés recently met to discuss, in his own words, “dedication, homeland, and the teachings of the undefeated.”
The removal of the announcement on Cubadebate, without any subsequent official clarification, raises the question of whether there was a forced retraction following public criticism or if it is simply a containment maneuver in response to the backlash generated.
From political symbol to rental: they offered halls and offices in the Tribuna for up to 28,000 CUP
The original note, published as sponsored content on the Cubadebate portal, stated that the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune was opening its doors to leasing by individuals and legal entities, as part of the "regulatory updates of the economic policy" in the current year 2025.
The text justified this decision as a means to uphold "the legacy of its founding principles" through a more functional use of space, in a complex economic context for the maintenance of public infrastructure.
According to the announcement, the venue, which for years hosted ideological reaffirmation events, mass gatherings, and political concerts, could be used for private presentations, business meetings, workshops, or institutional parties.
Among the offerings, there was an air-conditioned lounge with a capacity for 100 people for 13,741.29 CUP per day, as well as two protocol lounges, one for 50 people and the other for 20, both priced at 15,543 CUP per day.
Outdoor spaces for night events accommodating up to 120 people were also available, at a cost of 28,000 CUP per day.
In addition, the socio-administrative building of the complex offered offices for rent, with monthly rates set at 340 CUP per square meter. For example, a 6x6 meter office cost 12,240 CUP per month, while a 3x3 meter office cost 3,060 CUP.
The note is withdrawn and criticism grows: “They are ashamed of their own incompetence.”
The quiet withdrawal of the publication provoked a wave of reactions on social media, where activists and citizens questioned the lack of transparency and coherence in the official discourse.
The activist Magdiel Jorge Castro wrote on Facebook: “Cubadebate deletes the news about the rental of the Anti-Imperialist Tribune, and several officials claim that the offer does not exist… today heads are rolling. They are ashamed of their own incompetence.”
In another post, Castro shared a caricature generated with artificial intelligence that featured the phrase "For rent," alluding to the withdrawal of the controversial note.
The image displayed the iconic flag of the Anti-Imperialist Tribune accompanied by the message "404 - page not found," a clear reference to the typical error of deleted content on the internet.
With irony, the illustration highlighted the contradiction between the regime's ideological discourse and the commercial practices briefly revealed by Cubadebate.
Reactions with a sarcastic tone also emerged, such as the one from Yaiset Rodríguez Fernández, who joked on Facebook: “—Hello, is this the Anti-Imperialist Tribune? —Yes, how can I help you? —I want to celebrate the girl's 15th birthday. But look, we can decorate with the stuff that my aunt from Miami sent, right? Hey, hey… Oh, it seems like it fell.”
The publication referred to the absurdity of renting a political symbol as a space for private celebrations, and to the incongruity of the official discourse in contrast to the economic and social reality of the country.
Frequently Asked Questions about Renting the Anti-Imperialist Tribune in Cuba
Is it true that the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune is available for rent?
The Anti-Imperialist Tribune José Martí was offered for rent in an announcement published by Cubadebate, which was subsequently removed. This announcement sparked controversy and various interpretations regarding whether the Cuban regime would allow the use of the space for private and commercial events.
What was the official response of the Cuban government to the announcement of the rental of the Tribuna?
Pedro Lizardo Garcés Escalona, president of the Rampa Popular Council, publicly denied the rental announcement and asserted that the Anti-Imperialist Tribune will continue to be a space for political denunciation and will not be rented out for private interests unrelated to its original purpose.
Why was the idea of renting the Anti-Imperialist Tribune proposed?
The announcement justified the rental of the Tribuna as a means to financially sustain the space due to the state's budgetary constraints and the wear caused by the marine environment. It was proposed to open its areas for cultural, political, and similar activities.
What does the Anti-Imperialist Tribune represent for the Cuban regime?
The Anti-imperialist Tribune is a symbol of the ideological discourse of the Cuban regime, historically used for acts of ideological reaffirmation and as a bastion of the "Battle of Ideas." Its potential rental has generated criticism due to the contradiction between its original use and its transformation into a commercial asset.
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