Freudian slips

A couple of days ago, The Sun Sentinel published a feature story about Fidel Castro’s early years in Biran, in eastern Cuba.

Reporter Ray Sanchez visited the large estate that used to be owned by Castro’s Spanish-born father, and where Castro, his younger brother, Raul, and their assorted siblings were born.

As the article points out, the estate was “nationalised” in 1958-59 but has since been turned by the regime into a national museum or sitio historico, paying tribute to the many virtues, bravery and socialist credentials of the young Castro. Naturally.

It’s an interesting read. But perhaps the most telling anecdote comes at the end, when the reporter is interviewing the director of the museum, Florencio Martin.

According to the report, the very talkative Mr Martin says all the right things about the 80-year-old dictator (great man, heroic figure, very brave, etc, etc), before confirming that the ultimate burial place for Castro is a closely-guarded State secret.

"We know that Raul will be buried in a pantheon in the … Sierra Maestra," he said. "But nothing has ever been said about the Comandante. That's a State secret. We wish it were here. That would make us very happy."

A Cuban security official who followed the reporter and Mr Martin closely during a tour of the site quickly added: "Hopefully that day will never come."

"Yes, hopefully that day will never come," the director repeated.

Priceless ...