Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "The Crab," couldn't hold back his emotions this past Saturday during the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Personal Security Directorate of the MININT. The event was marked by the performance of a poem dedicated to his grandfather, Raúl Castro, by pro-regime poet Marcos David Fernández Brunet.
The image of the grandson visibly moved by the lines praising Castro, who has been the subject of recent health-related rumors, did not go unnoticed. On social media, this moment was mockingly dubbed as "tears of a crab."
“And now what will they say / let them keep all their woes / their hospitals, their foes / their hate and venom at bay / look closely, here he stays / with his brother, with firm grip / to make the olive green trip around the flag’s triangle / whether the empire wants or not / he'll continue to exist,” recited the pro-regime poet.
The ceremony, held in Havana, celebrated the 65 years of this branch of the Ministry of the Interior, responsible for safeguarding the top leaders of the regime. It was founded on September 6, 1961.
Raúl Castro led the ceremony alongside leader Miguel Díaz-Canel and received a tribute from Brigadier General Emir Mesa Corona, head of the Directorate, in recognition of his role as a founder of the body alongside Fidel Castro.
The Minister of the Interior, Army Corps General Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, read a congratulatory letter from Raúl Castro himself to the members of the body, acknowledging their loyalty and service.
“I do not exaggerate when I speak of personal security as a loyal family to us, those who have had the responsibility of leading the revolution,” stated a passage from the letter.
In the letter, Raúl Castro also paid homage to the 32 Cuban agents killed in Venezuela on January 3 of this year, emphasizing, “I wish to pay tribute today to our 32 comrades who fell in Venezuela in the line of duty, may their spilled blood never be forgotten.”
“This encounter has been very emotional for me. To express all the affection I feel towards you as family, as a brother. And despite being under control for more than half of my life, I thank you from the deepest part of my heart,” the letter read.
Castro remained seated in the front row throughout a ceremony that seemed designed to quell rumors about his health.
Fernández Brunet, a young poet from Cienfuegos who won the national improvisation award on the TV program "Palmas y Cañas" in 2018, concluded the event with a combative poem that exalted the former leader, in line with the artists the regime includes in its political celebrations.
The reaction from "The Crab" is notable given his recent public profile: in July, he gave his first interview to U.S. media, discussing negotiations with Donald Trump and stating he would not "sacrifice the revolution."
Linked to the Personal Security Directorate since 2016, Raúl Castro's grandson, son of Débora Castro Espín and General Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Callejas, is considered one of the closest individuals to his grandfather's inner circle of power.
His presence at the event comes just days after international media reported that Raúl Castro might be gravely ill and receiving life support, making his public appearance at the ceremony all the more significant.
The event also coincided with the centennial of Fidel Castro's birth and Raúl's recent 95th birthday, with the official discourse hailing them as "founding leaders and permanent guides" of the regime's personal security.
Understanding Raúl Castro's Legacy and Health Rumors
What was the purpose of the recent ceremony in Havana?
The ceremony marked the 65th anniversary of the Personal Security Directorate of the MININT, celebrating its role in protecting the regime's top leaders since its founding in 1961.
Why was Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro emotional during the event?
He was visibly moved by a poem recited in honor of his grandfather, Raúl Castro, which addressed recent rumors about the elder Castro's health.
Who is Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro?
Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, also known as "The Crab," is the grandson of Raúl Castro. He is considered a close member of his grandfather's inner circle and has been involved with the Personal Security Directorate since 2016.