“Would you rent your mother?”: Ulises Toirac shares his views on renting spaces in the Antimperialist Tribune

"The wise solution does not fit in the equation. It is my moral duty to take care of my old woman," wrote the renowned Cuban humorist Ulises Toirac on Facebook, in a parable that is as simple as it is effective for criticizing the announcement to lease the facilities of the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune.

The comparison was not without reason: "From an economic standpoint, renting something that incurs losses without being used and, as time goes by, the losses increase due to deterioration, is a WISE decision. The question is what are we talking about," warned the actor, known for his sharp and straightforward language, in a post shared on social media this Wednesday.

His example was clear: no one would consider "renting their mother" to pay for her own food, medications, or clothing, no matter how much those expenses increase over time as she ages.

"The SABIA solution, however, does not fit into the equation. It is my MORAL DUTY to allocate part of my earnings to support my mother. To rent her out so she can work on the street and earn what she needs to live... IT DOES NOT WORK. An explanation of preschool dignity. Was that clear enough, or should I be more explicit?"

Toirac did not directly mention the figure of up to 28,000 pesos per day with which, according to reports, it is possible to rent some of the spaces of the ideological resistance site, linked since its inception to acts of political confrontation against the United States. However, the actor accompanied his post with a screenshot of the article from CiberCuba that reported on the promotion, clarifying the context of his criticism.

But from his reflection, a concern about the decomposition of principles seems to emerge: the loss of symbolic, moral, and collective meaning in favor of profitability at any cost. The comment, brief yet incisive, unleashed a wave of reactions. Some applauded the ethical clarity of his metaphor, while others defended the measure as a form of "mixed use" that is already common in other parts of the world.

Many users identified with Toirac's concerns. "We survive because our sons and daughters work tirelessly while emigrating to support us," wrote Elizabeth Lugo, a resident of Santa Clara. "We are in free fall without brakes or parachutes, because both have to be purchased in dollars," added Blanca Lama Torres.

Others were harsher: "If they have profited all their lives from the photo of Che, selling it for whatever trinket comes to mind... what can be expected from that situation? They would indeed sell their own mother to the highest bidder to maintain their position and good life," wrote David Maqueira.

Finally, in Jorge Hernández's opinion, "they have already begun to destroy everything they created. They would only do that if they no longer want to leave traces... they are following in the footsteps of the Russians who, after the great generals took over the country, made a shift."

On May 12, a note published as “sponsored content” (advertising) on the official portal Cubadebate announced that the iconic José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune, a symbol of the Cuban regime's official discourse against the United States, was opening “its covered and open-air areas for leasing by individuals and entities for cultural, political, educational, sports, and “similar” activities.

The announcement justified the decision as a means to uphold "the legacy of its foundational principles" through a more functional use of space, in the context of a complex economic situation for the maintenance of public infrastructure and as part of "the regulatory updates to the economic policy in the current 2025."

The news quickly went viral, provoking outrage, disbelief, and even creativity. The president of the Popular Council Rampa, a municipality in Plaza de la Revolución, Pedro Lizardo Garcés Escalona, reacted on Facebook to clarify the situation, although he did not directly mention Cubadebate. He emphasized that the site “will continue to be a space for the denunciation of our people (…) the platform of Fidel and the people of Cuba.”

He pointed out that some publications have discussed the issue as if the Tribuna were "up for auction or sale," which, according to him, is a distorted view of what has actually been under discussion.

In his message, Garcés, whose area of responsibility includes the iconic venue, explained that the Tribuna has long sought alternatives for economic sustainability due to the wear and tear caused by the marine environment and the budgetary limitations of the State. In this context, it has been proposed to rent out three indoor halls of the facility for meetings or events of state institutions, which until now were offered free of charge, even though these entities "have the 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.

Shortly after, Cubadebate removed the announcement from the website. The quiet withdrawal of the publication sparked a wave of reactions on social media, where citizens, activists, and intellectuals questioned the lack of transparency and consistency in the official discourse, raising further questions about whether the Cuban regime reversed its decision or was attempting to discreetly reformulate the proposal.

The announcement of rental spaces at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune generated a wave of memes and criticism on social media, highlighting the contradiction between its ideological use and the current economic needs of the country.

The José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune was one of the many grand ideas of Fidel Castro that entailed a significant expenditure of material resources and hours. The construction began on January 15, 2000, and was completed in 80 days of continuous work, with 1,988 workers, technicians, architects, and engineers from various provinces putting in intensive hours.

Its location was conceived as a result of the propaganda campaign known as the Battle of Ideas and the massive mobilizations for the return of the raft child Elián González to Cuba in 2000.

The location was chosen for its proximity to the then U.S. Interests Section in Havana (USINT).

Since its inauguration, it has been the scene of marches against the policies of the U.S. government and, in recent years, performances by various music groups, both Cuban and foreign.

In 2019, the site was demolished in order to reform its design and replace various elements degraded by sea salt, such as the flag poles that served as a "forest" (Mount of Flags) that obscured the view of some LED screens placed at the Interests Section, on which messages supporting human rights were displayed.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Rental of the Antimperialist Tribune and Ulises Toirac's Critique