While the Cuban populace grapples with power outages, shortages, and wages insufficient for basic sustenance, the family of one of the regime's most influential generals enjoys an existence free from such hardships, marked by luxury travel, exclusive residences, and a lifestyle disconnected from the nation's pervasive crisis.
A recent exposé by journalist Mario J. Pentón, featured in Martí Noticias, sheds light on the advantages enjoyed by the children and grandchildren of General Ulises Rosales del Toro. A historical figure in the regime, Rosales del Toro has held multiple prominent positions, including former Minister of Sugar and Agriculture, and has long been a trusted figure within Cuba's military and political spheres.
Rosales del Toro is far from an ordinary official. A veteran of the Angolan war, a guerrilla fighter from the Sierra Maestra, and an Army Corps General, he spent decades under the command of Raúl Castro. In 1997, he was tasked with "reviving" the sugar industry, ultimately leading the dismantling of the sector. By 2008, he became Minister of Agriculture at a time when the nation imported over $2.5 billion in food annually, despite vast expanses of underutilized farmland.
In 2019, under the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel, he was removed from the Vice Presidency of the Council of Ministers to dedicate himself entirely to a protein plant program, an initiative initially promoted by Fidel Castro. This move was portrayed as strategic amid a period of significant shortages affecting the populace. Pentón highlights the irony that neither the general nor his family seemed to subsist on the much-touted moringa plant.
The Discreet Luxury of the Rosales del Toro Family
The Martí Noticias investigation reveals that one of his daughters, Alina Rosales Aguirreurreta, arrived in the United States in 2023 on a tourist visa and currently resides in Miami—a city frequently vilified by official Cuban rhetoric. Attempts to contact her went unanswered.
Another daughter, Suema Rosales Aguirreurreta, divides her time between Cancún and Cuba, traveling frequently and engaging in business ventures in Havana, according to sources cited in the report. One of her sons lives in Italy and celebrated a lavish wedding in Naples, with family members traveling across Europe for the occasion.
The report also highlights Perla Rosa Rosales Aguirreurreta, another daughter of the general, as a key player in Havana's economic power structure. Identified as a director of Habaguanex and linked to the Office of the City Historian, Perla's work is entwined with GAESA, the military conglomerate handling substantial foreign currency resources, ensuring access to travel and privileges.
The Next Generation's Extravagance
The starkest contrast is seen in the third generation. According to Pentón and his source, Luis Domínguez, granddaughter Daniela Rosales Pérez flaunted her European travels on social media while thousands of Cubans protested for freedom in July 2021. Many of these posts were reportedly deleted following warnings to avoid scandal. The young woman is linked to stays in high-end hotels and a rotation system of luxury residences reserved for elite families.
The report additionally mentions a private luxury daycare, Dulces Sueños, associated with residential addresses off-limits to ordinary Cubans, as well as vacations in restricted tourist areas available to the offspring of high-ranking officials.
These revelations are not new to independent media. In 2019, the independent outlet CubaNet described the Rosales del Toro family as part of a hereditary elite, connected to other military clans like that of General Teté Puebla, beneficiaries of nepotism networks, strategic positions, and state business access turned into family inheritances.
While the official narrative demands sacrifice, endurance, and silence, the powerful live a life of travel, foreign settlement, business endeavors, and unimaginable luxury for the majority. As Mario J. Pentón concludes in his investigation: the regime’s legacy is not a homeland for all; it’s a system where sacrifice is mandatory only for the downtrodden, and privilege is reserved for the upper echelons.
Exploring the Privileged Lives of Cuba's Elite
What roles did Ulises Rosales del Toro hold in the Cuban government?
Ulises Rosales del Toro served as the Minister of Sugar and Agriculture, and he was a trusted figure within Cuba's military and political realms, holding the rank of Army Corps General.
How has the Rosales del Toro family benefited from their political connections?
The family enjoys access to exclusive residences, luxury travel, and business opportunities, living a life of privilege disconnected from the hardships faced by ordinary Cubans.
Who is Perla Rosa Rosales Aguirreurreta and what is her role?
Perla Rosa Rosales Aguirreurreta is a key figure in Havana's economic structure, serving as a director of Habaguanex and being linked to the Office of the City Historian, involved with GAESA.