The 2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties was the transfer of the title of president and presidential duties from longtime Cuban leader Fidel Castro to his brother, First Vice President Raúl Castro, the next-in-line-of-succession person in Cuba, following Fidel's operation and recovery from an undisclosed digestive illness believed to be diverticulitis.
Fidel felt proud to have not only thwarted the Bay of Pigs Invasion, CIA attempts to assassinate him, and acts of Cuban exile violence, but also to have outlived the Cold War and the USSR.
[citation needed] For years, he had exhorted the Cuban people to brave the crippling effects of the U.S. embargo against Cuba (largely to whip up patriotic fury against the U.S.) and the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
While the radical left (especially Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales) praised Castro as a tireless defender of the poor and oppressed in Latin America and Africa while standing up to U.S. hegemony in the Americas, Fidel Castro's sworn enemies, namely the U.S. and Cuban-Americans, saw him as a ruthless tyrant who broke his promise to restore democracy to Cuba by imposing a repressive communist government on the island that muzzled all opposition and wrecked the Cuban economy.
The proclamation transferred to his brother the functions as first secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party, comandante of the Armed Forces, president of the Council of State, and of the government of the Republic of Cuba.
[citation needed] Castro also announced in his statement that he had spoken to the Guayasamín Foundation, whose responsibilities included organizing his upcoming 80th birthday celebrations on August 13, 2006.
Douglas was unwavering in his support, saying, "At this challenging time for the people of Cuba, we of Caricom want them to know that we wish for President Fidel Castro a successful recovery, and soon.
He also warned against trying to create instability during the transition, adding: "We in CARICOM sincerely hope that as President Castro...recovers, and acting President Raúl Castro takes on the very demanding responsibilities as Head of State, that there would be no adventurism on the part of any and from whatever quarter, to create problems for the Cuban people..."[29] Thereafter Saint Lucia's Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony also issued a series of well wishes for his Cuban counterpart.
On August 3, 2006, the White House released the following statement:[citation needed] The United States is actively monitoring the situation in Cuba following the announcement of a transfer of power.
At this time of uncertainty in Cuba, one thing is clear: The United States is absolutely committed to supporting the Cuban people’s aspirations for democracy and freedom.
[34] Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian president and a long-time friend of Castro, said "Cubans alone should decide on a possible presidential successor.
A headline in Peru's La República declared Castro's cessation of duties to be "the end of an era", while Venezuela's El Universal said the event was "unprecedented in 47 years of power.