Juanita Castro, Fidel Castro’s younger sister who went into exile in Miami, dies at 90

2023-12-05 02:37:47

Juanita Castro, the younger sister of the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro and who was in exile since the 1960s, died this Monday in Miami at the age of 90, reported journalist María Antonieta Collins, co-author of her memoirs.

“Today, Juanita Castro went ahead of us on the path of life and death, an exceptional woman, a tireless fighter for the cause of her Cuba that she loved so much,” Collins published on her Instagram account.

Collins was the author of the memoirs of the youngest of the Castro brothers, who left Cuba in 1964 after breaking up with them.

“His sister Enma and his extended family ask for privacy at this very painful time,” said Collins, who was his spokesperson.

The exile of Fidel’s sister

Juanita left Cuba for Mexico in 1964 and lived with her sister Enma, who had married a Mexican in Cuba and emigrated there. Upon her arrival, she called a press conference and announced that she had defected from Cuba. “I can no longer remain indifferent to what is happening in my country,” she declared.

“My brothers Fidel and Raúl have turned it into a huge prison surrounded by water. The people are nailed to a cross of torment imposed by international communism.” Juanita moved to Miami a few months later. In 1973 she opened a pharmacy called Mini Price. She became a naturalized US citizen in 1984.