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Arrufat was born in Santiago de Cuba on August 14, 1935.
Photo: Escritores.org

Havana, May 21 (RHC)--The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel lamented the death this Sunday, at the age of 87, of the outstanding writer Antón Arrufat, National Literature Prize 2000.

On his Twitter account, the dignitary described the storyteller, poet and playwright as an essential man of Cuban culture, and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues and readers.

Also on that social network, the Cuban Minister of Culture, Alpidio Alonso expressed his sorrow for the death of the intellectual, of great prestige inside and outside the Caribbean island.

"He achieved what he wanted: to be a writer. He raised a work that will outlive him. He leaves surrounded by the admiration and affection of all. Farewell poet," he said.

For his part, writer and essayist Abel Prieto, president of Casa de las Americas, wrote on Twitter: "Antón is gone. One of our Greats with a capital letter. He knew how to explore secret areas of Cuba as a storyteller, playwright, poet and chronicler. Rest in peace, brother".

Photo taken from Prensa Latina

The director of the National Library 'José Martí', Omar Valiño, and the president of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, Luis Morlote, also joined the expressions of grief in social networks.

Upon learning of Arrufat's death, Pedro de la Hoz, vice-president of that organization, on his Facebook page, described him as "an essential man in Cuban culture. He is one of the dead who do not rest in peace".

A note from the Cuban Book Institute informed that by family decision, Arrufat's body will be cremated.

Cuban writers, artists and cultural institutions will pay tribute to him tomorrow, Monday, from 10:00 to 13:00, local time, at the Aula Magna of the San Geronimo University College in Havana.