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Mario Urquía Carreño, former Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Cuba, and Airam Cervera Reigosa, former Grand Treasurer, returned one million Cuban pesos (CUP) to the Masonic institution on Friday, following the report of a massive embezzlement presented by the current board, as confirmed by the independent media Cubanet.
The current Grand Master, Mayker Filema Duarte, revealed in an official statement obtained by Cubanet that the delivery of the money took place in the presence of officials from the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, and the National Bank of Cuba, as well as executives from the Grand Lodge of Cuba, including the Grand Secretary Juliannis Galano Gómez and the Grand Treasurer Juan Carlos Yero Ramos.
According to the report from the independent media, the accused had already embezzled at least 2.1 million pesos through manipulation of bank statements and invoice forgery, an amount equivalent to over 17,600 dollars at the official exchange rate.
The Masonic council also reported that in the coming days, an additional 3 million pesos could be returned as part of the restitution process.
The investigation revealed that Cervera Reigosa, in complicity with Urquía Carreño, modified the official accounting records to conceal illicit operations. They even instructed the institution's accountant to report the theft of 2,700 dollars as a loss.
The scandal also included the allegation of the supposed theft of 19,000 dollars from the office of the former Grand Master, money belonging to the National Masonic Asylum, for which no explanation has yet been provided.
The Grand Lodge of Cuba stated that, thanks to the complaint filed in September 2024, the possible escape of the accused abroad was prevented.
However, as argued by Cubanet, the confirmed total embezzlement amounts to over $40,000, which has generated a deep internal crisis within the Masonic institution and public discredit of its former leaders.
The writer and political mason Ángel Santiesteban-Prats questioned in a Facebook post why, if "the deed is already accomplished and proven," Urquía and Cervera remain at large.
"Why did the Ministry of Justice defend and protect him until the last moment when he was forced to resign by the Freemasons? Because if his expulsion hadn't occurred, they would still be supporting him to this day," he questioned, proposing as a hypothesis that the regime is trying to make "a striking move" to the Masonic masses.
The Grand Lodge in Debate
The Cuban Freemasonry, shaken in 2024 by the scandal of corruption involving former Grand Master Mario Urquía Carreño, is currently facing a significant crisis. However, this time, the response has been different: unity, mobilization, and defense of its founding principles.
The scandal led to the forced resignation of Urquía Carreño as Grand Master, although the internal environment remained deeply divided.
His successor, Mayker Filema Duarte, publicly denounced the fraud. The restitution of one million pesos in August 2025 by Urquía and Cervera, in the presence of authorities from MININT, the Ministry of Justice, and the National Bank of Cuba, has not quelled the outrage, as the fate of several million more still remains to be clarified.
Frequently asked questions about the crisis of the Grand Lodge of Cuba and the corruption scandal
What happened with the Grand Lodge of Cuba and the former Grand Master Mario Urquía Carreño?
Mario Urquía Carreño and Airam Cervera Reigosa, former leaders of the Grand Lodge of Cuba, returned one million pesos after being accused of embezzling at least 2.1 million pesos, which has caused an internal crisis within the Masonic institution.
How has this scandal affected Freemasonry in Cuba?
The corruption scandal has caused a reputation crisis within Cuban Freemasonry, exacerbated by the regime's interference in its internal affairs. The Grand Lodge of Cuba is facing public discredit and internal division, in addition to state intervention that has been seen as an attempt to control the institution.
What has been the response of the Ministry of Justice to the situation at the Grand Lodge?
The Ministry of Justice has been accused of interfering in the internal affairs of Freemasonry, backing Mayker Filema Duarte, who refused to step down from the position of Grand Master after being dismissed. However, the Minister of Justice has denied any state interference, arguing that the situation is an internal matter of Freemasonry.
What measures have the Freemasons taken to address the crisis in the Grand Lodge?
The Freemasons have opted for unity and mobilization to defend their foundational principles and the autonomy of their institution. They have conducted protests and demonstrations to demand the removal of imposed leaders and have publicly denounced government interference.
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