The debate on what to do with the stone that holds the ashes of Fidel Castro in the Santa Ifigenia cemetery in a democratic Cuba resurfaced during an interview that CiberCuba conducted on Tuesday with the popular Cuban actor Albertico Pujol. In the interview, the artist advocated for keeping the monument as a reminder of the tragedy that Cuba has endured under the Castro regime.
As soon as that debate opened, viewers suggested destroying it or throwing it into the sea. In an ironic tone, the actor alluded to the idea of tossing it into the ocean or marking the spot where it would sink. “If you throw it into the sea, it has to be with a chain. We need to keep an eye on that because that stone is a real headache,” he joked.
Albertico Pujol was emphatic and stated, moreover, that he would not remove the stone marking the burial place of the former Cuban dictator. "No, I wouldn't take it away. Do you know why? So that people know that because of that stone we have lived through everything we cannot live again," he affirmed.
According to his explanation, the monument could serve as a permanent reminder of the consequences of more than six decades of governance in Cuba. “This is a point of reminder of why everything that has happened to us has occurred,” he noted.
The actor also emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. "Fifty or sixty-seven years in a person's life is a lifetime, but in the history of the universe, it's nothing. We cannot afford to forget those things," he said.
During the interview with CiberCuba, Albertico Pujol also expressed his desire for Cuba to become the country that “it deserves and is entitled to,” emphasizing that the Cuban people are made up of “very good people” who have faced profound difficulties over the past 67 years.
He also mentioned that he does not plan to return to Cuba if there is a change, because Miami is also Cuba. In this sense, he said he does not regret the decision he made to leave his country despite the fact that it took him away from television and film, but he prioritized the future of his children because he realized there was nothing for them to hope for in Cuba.
In response to CiberCuba's question about the type of transition he envisions, the artist stated loudly and clearly that "as long as there is a Castro in power, there is nothing to be done." He also expressed his opposition to initiating conversations with the regime.
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