Posthumous Tribute to Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz to Be Held This Wednesday

On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 16, Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, passed away in Havana. He was widely recognized for his distinguished service to the Revolution.

Cabrisas Ruiz was born on January 21, 1937, in Havana. He graduated as a Bachelor of Science and from the School of Foreign Trade, and also pursued studies in Political Science.

He took part in revolutionary activities against the Batista dictatorship through the student movement at the Ciego de Ávila Secondary Institute, as well as within the University Students’ Federation (FEU) and the 13th of March Revolutionary Directorate at the University of Havana, where he was studying medicine.

In 1959, he joined the Revolutionary Navy and later served in the Ministry of the Interior.

From 1961 onward, Cabrisas dedicated himself to the Ministry of Foreign Trade. He served as Commercial Counselor in Uruguay, Chile, and Canada; Cuba’s Observer Delegate to the Latin American Free Trade Association (ALALC); Director of Trade Policy with Latin America; Cuba’s Deputy Commissioner General at Expo ’67; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan; and subsequently Deputy Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade from 1980 until 2000.

Due to his proven leadership, he was later appointed Minister of Government, and eight years afterward became Vice President of the Council of Ministers. In recent years, he also served as Minister of Economy and Planning and later as Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment.

Cabrisas was part of Cuban official delegations to numerous international events across Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa. He chaired Cuba’s side in intergovernmental commissions on economic and financial relations with China, Russia, Angola, and Venezuela.

He enjoyed the full trust of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, and the leadership of the Party, State, and Government.

Humble, modest, and austere, he received numerous national and international honors, including the honorary title of Hero of Labor of the Republic of Cuba and the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. He was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and a deputy to the National Assembly of People’s Power.

The Revolution loses a dedicated figure whose loyalty, knowledge, and ability earned him respect and entrusted him with high responsibilities, including representing Cuba on the international stage and in key debates on politics and foreign trade.

The posthumous tribute will take place on Wednesday, September 17, beginning at 9:00 a.m., at the headquarters of the Council of Ministers—the institution to which he devoted much of his life’s work.

Heartfelt condolences are extended to his family and friends.