He may be heavy but he's my brother

While most Cubans in exile are celebrating Fidel Castro's poor health, his sister is sad. Picture / Reuters

CUBA - While most people from the Cuban exiled community rejoice at the news of Fidel Castro's failing health, one woman will not be celebrating.

Juanita Castro has not spoken to her brother since she fled Cuba more than 40 years ago and has been a vocal critic of his regime since.

But despite their political differences, 73-year-old Castro says she still cares for her brother. "In the same way people are demonstrating and celebrating, I'm showing sadness. I respect the position of everyone who feels happy about his health problems, but they have to respect me also," she said.

This week Fidel Castro temporarily relinquished power to their brother Raul Castro.

Juanita Castro, who owns a small pharmacy in Miami, said her brother was released from intensive care on Wednesday, but she had no additional information about his health.

"There's never been a reconciliation and I've always been very clear and spoken out publicly against the regime for years," Juanita Castro said.

She hoped the Cuban community would understand her view.

"We are separated for political reasons, ideological reasons, but that's it."

Cuba's Communist Party emphasised it would stay in control no matter what happened to its leader but failed to settle doubts over who was in charge of the island.

In a typically cryptic message, the main Communist newspaper, Granma, printed part of an old speech by Raul Castro.

But there was still no sign of Fidel or Raul. In this vacuum, Cubans were left to ponder their future while professional observers said they believed other senior members of the Government were biding their time.

"Most people here, after 47 years of Castro's rule, are completely disassociated from the political process and have a fear of change," said one Western diplomat.

The Government has tried to persuade Cubans that Castro's intestinal surgery is nothing serious but statements issued by the leader himself have said it is how long his recovery will take.

- REUTERS