Ernesto “Che” Guevara helped destroy Cuba’s economy, including its key sugar industry, experts say.

“Shortly after the revolution, as Fidel Castro was wounding up one of his many long speeches to a large throng of supporters in Havana, he asked: “Are there any economists here?” Ernesto “Che” Guevara raised his hand and Fidel immediately proclaimed: “Comrade Che, you are the new president of Cuba’s National Bank!’ After the meeting, Fidel sought out Che and said: “Che, I didn’t know you were an economist?”. Che looked shocked and then muttered: “Economist? I thought you said Communist!”

So goes an old Cuban joke to illustrate part of the reason why Cuba’s economy went into a dramatic free fall after Che, an Argentine-born radical physician, was named National Bank president in November 1959, succeeding Felipe Pazos, Castro’s first central bank president. “*

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