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Havana readies for tributes to late leader Fidel Castro

By on November 27, 2016

HAVANA  — Havana is readying for two days of tributes to deceased Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Flowers placed by members of Mexico's communist party lay on an image of late Cuban President Fidel Castro, outside the Cuban embassy in Mexico City, late Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016. Castro, who led a rebel army to improbable victory in Cuba, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of 10 U.S. presidents during his half century rule, died in Cuba on Friday at age 90. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)

Castro, who led a rebel army to improbable victory in Cuba, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of 10 U.S. presidents during his half century rule, died in Cuba on Friday at age 90. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)

Workers are cleaning and setting up fencing at the capital’s sprawling Revolution Plaza, where Castro’s remains will be brought beginning Monday.

Throngs of islanders are expected to visit to pay their respects there in the shadow of Havana’s towering monument to independence hero Jose Marti and a huge sculpture of revolution leader Ernesto “Che” Guevara.

Cuba’s government has declared nine days of national mourning following Castro’s death Friday night at age 90.

Orlando Alvarez is a 55-year-old jeweler who was fishing on the seaside Malecon boulevard Sunday morning. He said Castro’s passing is “a great sorrow” and predicts that “everyone” will visit the plaza for the two days set aside for Cubans to pay their respects.

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