List of Cuba's ministers since 1959

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This list includes all former and current members of the Cuban Council of Ministers since 1959.

Prime Minister and since 1976 Chairman of the Council of Ministers

First Vice-Chairman of the Council of Ministers

Vice-Chair of the Council of Ministers

(1972–1976 Vice Prime Minister)

  • 1972–1994 Ramiro Valdés Menéndez
  • 1972–1978 Belarmino Castilla Mas
  • 1972-1981 Flavio Bravo Pardo
  • 1972–1986 Guillermo García Frías
  • 1972-1989 Diocles Torralba González
  • 1972–1997 Carlos Rafael Rodríguez
  • 1972–1974 Pedro Miret Prieto
  • 1974–1994 Joel Domenech Benítez
  • 1976-1982 Isidoro Malmierca Peoli
  • 1976–2012 José Ramón Fernández Álvarez
  • 1979–1986 Humberto Pérez González
  • 1980–1983 Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado
  • 1980-1983 Arnaldo Milián Castro
  • 1980-2009 Osmany Cienfuegos Gorriarán
  • 1981 - ???? Antonio Esquivel Yedra
  • 1986–1988 José López Moreno
  • 1988–1995 Antonio Rodríguez Maurell
  • 1988-2001 Adolfo Díaz Suárez
  • 1990-1995 Lionel Soto Prieto
  • 1990–1993 Jaime Crombet Hernández-Baquero
  • 1990-2009 Pedro Miret Prieto
  • 1995-2009 José Luis Rodriguez García
  • 2003-2009 Otto Rivero Torres
  • 2009-2010 Jorge Luis Sierra Cruz
  • since 2009 Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz
  • since 2009 Ramiro Valdés Menéndez
  • since 2009 Ulises Rosales del Toro
  • since 2009 Marino Alberto Murillo Jorge
  • since 2010 Antonio Enrique Lussón Batlle
  • since 2012 Adel Yzquierdo Rodríguez
  • 2012–2018 Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez

Secretaries of the Council of Ministers

Minister of Agriculture (Ministro de Agricultura)

  • 1959–1959 Humberto Sorí Marín
  • 1959-1960 Pedro Miret Prieto
  • 1976-1980 Rafael Francia Mestre
  • 1980-1983 Arnaldo Milián Castro
  • 1983–1988 Adolfo Díaz Suárez
  • 1988-1993 Carlos Pérez León
  • 1993–2003 Alfredo Jordán Morales
  • 2003-2008 María del Carmen Pérez
  • 2008-2010 Ulises Rosales del Toro
  • since 2010 Gustavo Rodríguez Rollero

The tasks of the Ministry of Agriculture were carried out between 1960 and 1976 by the Institute for Agricultural Reform (Instituto Nacional de la Reforma Agraria, INRA). Its presidents during this time were Fidel Castro Ruz (1959–1962 and 1965–1976) and Carlos Rafael Rodríguez (1962–1965).

Minister for Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (Ministro del Comercio Exterior e Inversión Extranjera)

  • 1959–1961 Raúl Cepero Bonilla
  • 1961–1965 Alberto Mora Becerra
  • 1965–1980 Marcelo Fernández Font
  • 1980-2000 Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz
  • 2000-2009 Raul de la Nuez Ramirez
  • since 2009 Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz

The Ministry was only the Ministry of Commerce between 1959 and 1961 and then the Ministry of Foreign Trade until 2009. In 2009 it was merged with the previous Ministry for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation.

Minister for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation (Inversión Extranjera y la Colaboración Económica)

The Ministry of Economic Cooperation, established in 1967, was the State Committee for Economic Cooperation from 1976 to 1994, and then the Ministry of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation until 2009. In 2009 it was merged with the Ministry of Foreign Trade.

Minister for Construction (Ministro de la Construcción)

  • 1959-1959 Manuel Ray Rivero
  • 1959–1966 Osmany Cienfuegos Gorriarán
  • 1966–1972 Ramón Darias Rodes
  • 1972–1976 Ramiro Valdés Menéndez
  • 1976–1986 José López Moreno
  • 1986–1987 Raúl Cabrera Núñez
  • 1987-1995 Homero Crabb Valdés
  • 1995-2002 Juan Mario Junco del Pino
  • 2002-2011 Fidel Fernando Figueroa de la Paz
  • since 2011 René Mesa Villafaña

The Ministry was originally called the Ministry of Public Works from 1959 to 1963 and then until 1972 the Ministry of Construction. Between 1972 and 1976 the duties were taken over by a vice-chairman of the Council of Ministers and then again by the current ministry.

Minister of Construction Materials (Ministro de la Industria de materiales de la Construcción)

  • 1987-1989 Levi Farah Balmaseda
  • 1989–1999 José Cañete Álvarez

Minister for the Economy and Planning (Ministro de Economía y Planificación)

  • 1959–1964 Regino Boti León
  • 1964–1979 Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado
  • 1979–1986 Humberto Pérez González
  • 1986–1988 José López Moreno
  • 1988–1995 Antonio Rodríguez Maurell
  • 1995–1995 Osvaldo Martínez Martínez
  • 1995–2009 José Luis Rodríguez García
  • 2009–2011 Marino Alberto Murillo Jorge
  • 2011–2014 Adel Yzquierdo Rodríguez
  • 2014–2016 Marino Alberto Murillo Jorge
  • from 2016 Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz

The original Ministry of Economic Affairs, founded in 1959, became the Central Council for Planning from 1960 to 1994 and has been today's ministry since 1994.

Minister for Accounts and Control (Ministro de Auditoría y Control)

The ministry, which was only created in 2001, was dissolved in 2009 and the office of General Controller (Contraloría General) was created, which the previous minister took over.

Ministry of Labor and Social Security (Ministro de Trabajo y Seguridad Social)

  • 1959–1960 Manuel Fernández García
  • 1960–1964 Augusto Martínez Sánchez
  • 1964–1973 Jorge Risquet Valdés
  • 1973–1976 Oscar Fernández Padilla
  • 1976–1990 Joaquín Benavides Rodríguez
  • 1990-1995 Francisco Linares Calvo
  • 1995–1999 Salvador Valdés Mesa
  • 1999–2009 Alfredo Morales Cartaya
  • since 2009 Margarita Marlene González Fernández

Established in 1959, the Ministry of Labor became the State Committee for Labor and Social Security in 1976 and the current Ministry in 1994.

Minister for Social Welfare (Ministro de Bienestar Social)

  • 1959–1959 Elena Mederos Cabañas
  • 1959–1961 Raquel Pérez González

Minister of Finance and Prices (Ministro de Finanzas y Precios)

  • 1959–1960 Rufo López Fresquet
  • 1960–1962 Rolando Díaz Aztaraín
  • 1962–1965 Luis Álvarez Rome
  • 1965–1973 Orlando Pérez Rodríguez (Governor of the National Bank)
  • 1973–1976 Raúl León Torrás (Governor of the National Bank)
  • 1976–1985 Francisco García Vals (Chairman of the State Finance Committee)
  • 1985–1993 Rodrigo García León (Chairman of the State Finance Committee)
  • 1994–1995 José Luis Rodríguez García
  • 1995-2003 Manuel Millares Rodríguez
  • 2003-2009 Georgina Barreiro Fajardo
  • since 2009 Lina Olinda Pedraza Rodríguez

The functions of the original treasury were carried out by the National Bank between 1965 and 1976. The State Committee for Finance then existed between 1976 and 1994. In 1994 this was merged with the previous State Committee for Awards to form the current ministry.

Minister for the Recovery of Misappropriated Goods (Ministro de Recuperación de Bienes Malversados)

  • 1959–1959 Faustino Pérez Hernández
  • 1959–1961 Rolando Díaz Aztarain

Defense Minister (Ministro de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias)

Minister of Education (Ministro de Educación)

  • 1959–1965 Armando Hart Dávalos
  • 1965–1970 José Llanusa Gobel
  • 1970–1972 Belarmino Castilla Mas
  • 1972–1976 José Ramón Fernández Álvarez
  • 1976-1984 Asela de los Santos Tamayo
  • 1984–1990 José Ramón Fernández Álvarez
  • 1990-2008 Luis Ignacio Gómez Gutiérrez
  • since 2008 Ena Elsa Velázquez Cobiella

Interior Minister (Ministro del Interior)

Minister for Information Technology and Communication (Ministro de la Informática y las Comunicaciones)

  • 1959–1960 Enrique Oltuski Ozacki
  • 1960–1962 Raúl Curbelo Morales
  • 1962–1965 Faure Chomón Mediavilla
  • 1965–1973 Jesús Montané Oropesa
  • 1973–1985 Pedro Guelmes González
  • 1985–1993 Manuel Castillo Rabassa
  • 1993-2000 Silvano Colás Sánchez
  • 2000-2005 Ignacio González Planas
  • 2005–2011 Ramiro Valdés Menéndez
  • 2011–2012 Medardo Díaz Toledo
  • since 2012 Maimir Mesa Ramos

The Ministry of Communications, created in 1959, was renamed the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications in 2000.

Minister of Justice (Ministro de Justicia)

  • 1959–1959 Ángel Fernández Rodríguez
  • 1959–1973 Alfredo Yabur Maluf
  • 1973–1980 Armando Torres Santrayll
  • 1980–1983 Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado
  • 1983–1990 Juan Escalona Reguera
  • 1990-1996 Carlos Amat Fores
  • 1996-2007 Roberto Díaz Sotolongo
  • since 2007 María Esther Reus González

Minister for Laws of the Revolution (Ministro de Leyes Revolucionarias)

Foreign Minister (Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores)

Minister of Health (Ministro de Salud Pública)

  • 1959–1959 Julio Martínez Paez
  • 1959–1960 Serafín Ruiz de Zárate
  • 1960–1968 José Ramón Machado Ventura
  • 1968–1972 Heliodoro Martínez Junco
  • 1972–1979 José A. Gutierrez Muñiz
  • 1979-1986 Sergio del Valle Jiménez
  • 1986–1995 Julio Teja Pérez
  • 1995–2002 Carlos Dotres Martínez
  • 2002-2005 Damodar Peña Pentón
  • 2005–2010 José Ramón Balaguer Cabrera
  • since 2010 Roberto Morales Ojeda

Transport Minister (Ministro de Transporte)

  • 1959-1960 Julio Camacho Aguilera
  • 1960–1965 Omar Fernández Cañizares
  • 1965-1970 Faure Chomón Mediavilla
  • 1970–1980 Antonio Lussón Battle
  • 1980–1985 Guillermo García Frías
  • 1985-1989 Diocles Torralbas González
  • 1989–1996 Senén Casas Regueiro
  • 1997-2003 Álvaro Pérez Morales
  • 2003-2006 Carlos Manuel Pazo Torrado
  • 2006-2010 Jorge Luis Sierra Cruz
  • 2010–2015 César Ignacio Arocha Masid
  • since 2015 Adel Yzquierdo Rodríguez

Minister for Internal Trade (Ministro de Comercio Interior)

  • 1961–1962 Máximo Berman Berman
  • 1962–1970 Manuel Luzardo García
  • 1970–1981 Serafín Fernández Rodríguez
  • 1982-1995 Manuel Vila Sosa
  • 1995-2006 Bárbara Castillo Cuesta
  • 2006–2009 Marino Alberto Murillo Jorge
  • 2009–2011 Jacinto Angulo Pardo
  • since 2011 Mary Blanca Ortega Barredo

Sugar Minister (Ministro del Azúcar)

  • 1964–1968 Orlando Borrego Díaz
  • 1968–1970 Francisco Padrón
  • 1970–1977 Marcos Lage Coello
  • 1977–1985 Diocles Torralba González
  • 1985–1986 Antonio Rodríguez Maurell
  • 1986-1993 Juan Herrera Machado
  • 1993-1997 Nelson Torres Pérez
  • 1997-2009 Ulises Rosales del Toro
  • 2009–2010 Luis Manuel Ávila Cruz
  • 2010–2011 Orlando Celso García Ramírez

The sugar ministry created in 1964 was dissolved in 2011.

Minister of Industry (Ministro de Industrias)

The Ministry of Industry, created in 1962, was divided into individual ministries for the food industry (since 1965), mining and geology (1967–1980), basic industry (1967–1974, 1980–2012), and light industry (1967–2012) in 1965 and 1967 respectively. In 2012, the ministries for basic and light industry were merged to form the Ministry of Industry.

Minister for the Food Industry (Ministro de la Industria Alimentaria)

Minister for Mining and Geology (Ministro de Minería y Geología)

  • 1967–1973 Pedro Miret Prieto
  • 1973–1976 Manuel Céspedes Hernández
  • 1976–1980 Arturo Guzmán Pascual

The Ministry of Mining and Metallurgy, created in 1967, was renamed the Ministry of Mining, Metallurgy and Fuels in 1974 and was then the Ministry of Mining and Geology from 1976 until its dissolution in 1980. The tasks were taken over in 1980 by the re-established Ministry of Basic Industry.

Minister for Basic Industry (Ministro de la Industria Básica)

  • 1967-1970 Unknown
  • 1970–1974 Joel Domenech Benítez
  • 1974–1974 Antonio Esquivel Yedra
  • 1980-1983 Unknown
  • 1983-2004 Marcos Portal León
  • 2004-2010 Yadira García Vera
  • 2010–2012 Tomás Benítez Hernández (managing director until June 2011)
  • 2012 Alfredo López Valdés

The ministry created in 1967 was initially dissolved in 1974. In the meantime, the tasks of the Ministry between 1974 and 1980 were divided between the ministries for the electrical industry (Ministerio de la Industria Eléctrica: Minister unknown), the chemical industry (Ministerio de la Industria Química: Minister 1974–1980 Antonio Esquivel Yedra). After that, these fields of activity were merged again in 1980 and newly created with the Ministry of Mining and Geology as the Ministry of Basic Industry. In 2012 the Ministry of Basic Industry was dissolved. Its functions were partially transferred to the newly established Ministry of Energy and Mining and the newly formed Ministry of Industry.

Minister of Energy and Mines (Ministro de Energía y Minas)

  • since 2012 Alfredo López Valdés

Minister for Light Industry (Ministro de la Industria Ligera)

  • 1967–1970 Joel Domenech Benítez
  • 1970–1980 Nora Frómeta Silva
  • 1980–1985 Manuel Millares Rodríguez
  • 1985–1986 Roberto Ogando Zas
  • 1986–1990 Antonio Esquivel Yedra
  • 1990–1995 Eddy Fernandez Boada
  • 1995-2003 Jesús Pérez Otón
  • 2003-2005 Estela Domínguez Ariosa
  • 2005–2010 José Hernández Bernárdez
  • 2010–2012 Damar Maceo Cruz

In 2012 the ministries for light and heavy industry were merged to form the Ministry of Industry.

Minister for Fisheries Economy (Ministro de la Industria Pesquera)

  • 1967–1973 Unknown
  • 1973–1979 Angel Joel Chaveco Hernández
  • 1980–1995 José Fernández Cuervo-Vinent
  • 1995-2000 Orlando Rodríguez Romay
  • 2000–2009 Alfredo López Valdés

The tasks of the Ministry of Merchant Navy and Ports, created in 1967, corresponded to those of the Fisheries Institute until 1973, which was headed by Emilio Aragonés Navarro and then Anibal Velaz. In 1973 the ministry was renamed the Ministry of Merchant Navy, Ports and Fisheries and since 1980 has been called the Ministry of Fisheries. In 2009 the ministry was dissolved and the tasks were transferred to the ministry for the food industry.

Minister for Heavy Industry (Ministro de la Industria Sidero-Mecánica)

  • 1974–1980 Léster Rodríguez Pérez
  • 1980–1990 Marcos Lage Coello
  • 1990-2000 Ignacio Gonzáalez Planas
  • 2000-2009 Fernando Acosta Santana
  • 2009–2012 Salvador Pardo Cruz

The Ministry of Heavy Industry, founded in 1974, was called the Ministry of Heavy Industry and Electronics between 1994 and 2000. In 2012 the ministries for heavy and light industry were merged to form the Ministry of Industry.

Minister for Science, Technology and Environment (Ministro de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente)

  • 1962–1972 Antonio Núñez Jiménez
  • 1972–1972 Tirso W. Sáenz Coopat
  • 1972–1980 Zoilo Marinello Vidaurreta
  • 1980–1985 Wilfredo Torres Yribar
  • 1985-2004 Rosa Elena Simeón Negrín
  • 2004–2009 Fernando González Bermúdez
  • 2009–2012 José Manuel Miyar Barruecos
  • since 2012 Elba Rosa Pérez Montoya

The National Commission of the Academy of Sciences, founded in 1962, was renamed the State Committee for Science and Technology in 1976 and was then called the Cuban Academy of Sciences (Academia de Ciencias de Cuba) from 1980 to 1994. In 1994 the current ministry was created.

Minister of Culture (Ministro de Cultura)

The Ministry of Culture was created in 1976 from parts of the Ministry of Education and the National Culture Commission (Comisión Nacional de Cultura).

Minister for Higher Education (Ministro de Educación Superior)

  • 1976-2005 Fernándo Vecino Alegret
  • 2005–2009 Juan Vela Valdés
  • 2009–2012 Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez
  • 2012–2016 Rodolfo Alarcón Ortiz
  • since 2016 José Ramón Saborido

The Ministry of Culture was created in 1976 from parts of the Ministry of Education.

Minister of Tourism (Ministro de Turismo)

  • 1976-1986 Unknown
  • 1986-1994 Rafael Sed Perez
  • 1994–1999 Osmany Cienfuegos Gorriarán
  • 1999-2004 Ibrahim Ferradaz García
  • since 2004 Manuel Marrero Cruz

The National Institute of Tourism, founded in 1976 and headed by cabinet rank, was renamed the Ministry of Tourism in 1994.

Central Bank (Banco Central de Cuba)

  • 1959-1959 Felipe Pazos Roque
  • 1959–1961 Ernesto Guevara de la Serna
  • 1961–1962 Raúl Cepero Bonilla
  • 1962–1973 Orlando Pérez Rodríguez
  • 1973–1985 Raúl León Torrás
  • 1985–1995 Héctor Rodríguez Llompart
  • 1995–2009 Francisco Soberón Valdés
  • since 2009 Ernesto Medina Villaveirán

The National Bank (Banco Nacional de Cuba) established in 1959 took over the tasks of the previous Ministry of the Treasury (Ministerio de Hacienda) between 1965 and 1976. In 1994 the National Bank was renamed the Central Bank.

National Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Recreation (Instituto Nacional de Deportes, Educación Física y Recreación)

  • 1961–1965 José Llanusa Gobel
  • 1965–1980 Jorge García Bango
  • 1980–1985 Carlos Galván Vila
  • 1985–1994 Conrado Martínez Corona
  • 1994–1997 Reynaldo González López
  • 1997-2005 Humberto Rodríguez González
  • 2005-2014 Julio Christian Jiménez Molina
  • since 2014 Antonio Eduardo Becali Garrido

Institute for Radio and Television (Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión)

  • 1962–1966 Unknown
  • 1966–1973 Jorge Serguera Riverí
  • 1976–1985 Nivaldo Herrera Sardiñas
  • 1985–1990 Ismael González González
  • 1990–1999 Enrique Román Hernández
  • 1999-2009 Ernesto López Domínguez
  • since 2009 Danylo Sirio López

Institute of Civil Aviation (Instituto de Aeronáutica Civil de Cuba)

  • 1985–1987 Luis Orlando Domínguez Muñiz
  • 1987–1989 Vicente Gómez López
  • 1989-2010 Rogelio Acevedo González
  • 2010–2013 Ramón Martínez Echevarría

The Institute of Civil Aviation was integrated into the Ministry of Transport in 2013.

Minister without Portfolio (Ministro de Gobierno sin cartera)

  • 1980-1981 Antonio Esquivel Yedra
  • 1980-1981 Jorge Lezcano Pérez
  • 1980-1995 José A. Naranjo Morales
  • 1980-1987 Levi Farah Balmaseda
  • 1995-2003 Wilfredo López Rodríguez
  • 1998-2008 Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz

Former central authorities with cabinet rank

State Committee for Prizes (Comité Estatal de Precios)

  • 1976-1982 Unknown
  • 1982–1985 Antonio Rodríguez Maurell
  • 1985-1994 Arturo Guzmán Pascual

After its dissolution in 1994, the tasks of the committee, founded in 1976, fell within the remit of the Ministry of Finance and Prices.

State Committee for the Supply of Technical Material (Comité Estatal de Abastecimiento Técnico Material)

  • 1976–1984 Irma Sánchez Valdés
  • 1984-1994 Sonia Rodríguez Cardona

The tasks of the committee, founded in 1976, fell into the remit of the Ministry of Economic Affairs after its dissolution in 1994.

State Committee for Statistics (Comité Estatal de Estadísticas)

  • 1976-1994 Fidel Vascos González

The tasks of the committee, founded in 1976, fell into the remit of the Ministry of Economic Affairs after its dissolution in 1994.

State Committee for Standardization (Comité Estatal de Normalización)

  • 1976-1981 Unknown
  • 1981-1994 Ramón Darias Rodes

The tasks of the committee, founded in 1976, fell into the remit of the Ministry of Economic Affairs after its dissolution in 1994.

National Institute for System Automation and Computer Technology (Instituto Nacional de Sistemas Automatizados y Técnicas de Computación)

  • 1976-1994 Samuel Savariego Capuano

The tasks of the institute, founded in 1976, fell within the remit of the Ministry of Heavy Industry in 1994.

Institute for the research and inquiry of internal demand (Instituto Cubano de Investigaciones y Orientación de la Demanda Interna)

  • 1976-1992 Eugenio Rodriguez Balaris
  • 1992-1994 Unknown

The tasks of the institute, founded in 1976, fell into the remit of the Ministry of Economic Affairs after its dissolution in 1994.

National Institute for Housing (Instituto Nacional de la Vivienda)

  • 1984–1994 Enrique Anavitarte Losada

The tasks of the institute, which was founded in 1984, fell into the remit of the Ministry of Construction after its dissolution in 1994.

National Institute for State Asset Reserves (Instituto Nacional de Reservas Estatales)

  • 1985–1990 Unknown
  • 1990-2008 Moisés Sio Wong

The tasks of the institute, founded in 1985, fell into the remit of the armed forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias) after its dissolution in 2008.

National Institute for Water Storage (Instituto Nacional de Recursos Hidráulicos)

  • 1989-2007 Jorge Luis Aspiolea Roig
  • 2007–2011 René Mesa Villafaña
  • since 2011 Inés María Chapman Waugh

The tasks of the institute, which was founded in 1989, fell within the remit of the Ministry of Construction in 2007.