Cuba’s Castro turns 81

HAVANA – President Fidel Castro turned 81 yesterday with few public celebrations expected on the island, as Cuba’s Communist leader continued his slow recovery from intestinal surgery.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who claims to be Castro’s political heir, hinted a week ago that he would ‘soon’ visit his friend and may have been Havana yesterday, though there was been no official announcement. Chavez was at Castro’s bedside when the Cuban leader turned 80 last year and ‘provisionally’ ceded power to his brother, Raul, four days after undergoing intestinal surgery.Chavez’s possible visit could be the highlight of the birthday celebrations: few in Cuba expect any of the glitzy spectacles of the past, or even fresh news about Castro’s condition or his political future.No official celebrations have been planned, and only a few social and political groups have announced festivities.”No cheers or tears, nothing extraordinary, not a word said.He’s no longer at the centre,” an unnamed 32-year-old woman watering her lawn told AFP.She echoed a widely held opinion that Castro has been sidelined since his July 2006 surgery.Castro has not been seen in public since undergoing the operation, though he has appeared in photographs and eight videos taken during his recovery.Nampa-AFPChavez was at Castro’s bedside when the Cuban leader turned 80 last year and ‘provisionally’ ceded power to his brother, Raul, four days after undergoing intestinal surgery.Chavez’s possible visit could be the highlight of the birthday celebrations: few in Cuba expect any of the glitzy spectacles of the past, or even fresh news about Castro’s condition or his political future.No official celebrations have been planned, and only a few social and political groups have announced festivities.”No cheers or tears, nothing extraordinary, not a word said.He’s no longer at the centre,” an unnamed 32-year-old woman watering her lawn told AFP.She echoed a widely held opinion that Castro has been sidelined since his July 2006 surgery.Castro has not been seen in public since undergoing the operation, though he has appeared in photographs and eight videos taken during his recovery.Nampa-AFP