AU professor from Cuba speaks out on Castro's resignation

Diego M. Gimenez Jr., Extension specialist and associate professor in the Agriculture Department at Auburn University, who was born in Cuba talks about his reaction to the Castro's resignation.

By: OANow Staff | Opelika Auburn News
Published: February 20, 2008

Diego M. Gimenez Jr., Extension specialist and associate professor in the Agriculture Department at Auburn University, was born in Cuba, took part in the Bay of Pigs, was captured and jailed in Cuba for two years and has met Fidel Castro.

When he woke up Tuesday morning, he was “cautiously excited” about Castro’s resignation.

“I hope we can go back to Cuba next year,” said Gimenez, adding that he hopes Americans and Cuban-American will be able to freely travel to Cuba in the near future.

The real test will come after elections Sunday, he said.

Gimenez said he expects Raúl Castro will take Fidel Castro’s place as president.

“It will be very important to see who will take his void,” he said. “Mr. Raúl Castro has been a key figure in encouraging Mr. Fidel Castro to open the doors,” he said referring to tourism and trade.

Raúl Castro, Fidel Castro’s brother, has been serving as acting president of Cuba since 2006 because Fidel Castro’s fading health.

“I feel we need to see who else comes into the lime light,” Gimenez said. “Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada will play in the next Assembly or Council of State.”

Quesada is the current president of the National Assembly of People’s Power and is very powerful, Gimenez said.

Gimenez said he would like to see Cuba move towards democratization — fair elections, release of political prisoners and trade with the U.S. “Which will mean softening of the rhetoric from both sides,” he said.

There are two government bodies in Cuba. One is the Council of State, a 31-member body elected by the National Assembly of People’s Power. The Council of State exercises most of the legislative power between the two sessions of the National Assembly.

Membership in this group includes the president, the first vice present and five other vice presidents.

The other body is the National Assembly of People’s Power. This group is the legislative parliament of the Republic of Cuba and the supreme body of State power.

The National Assembly of People’s Power has 609 members. This is where all the old socialists and communists are, Gimenez said.

Both groups elect officials for five-year terms.

For 49 years, Castro has challenged every sitting president in the U.S., he said. “Maybe Mr. Bush will be the last.”

“It’s a positive step,” he said.

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