HAVANA TIMES — The work of the alternative online media had a strong impact at the highest levels of the Cuban government with the news about the new perfumes “Ernesto” (for Che Guevara) and “Hugo” (for Hugo Chavez) .

On Saturday the official Granma newspaper published a press release in which the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers confirmed the facts and promised to punish those who devised the marketing “tribute” to Che and Hugo Chavez.

The following is the message from the Council of Ministers.

The Symbols Are Sacred

The Congress recently organized by LABIOFAM included the presentation of two perfumes that, according to statements to the international press from executives of that company, would carry as brands the names of “Ernesto” and “Hugo,” in an alleged “homage” to Comandantes Ernesto “Che” Guevara and Hugo Chávez Frías.

The details of this irresponsible act were analyzed in depth last night, Friday, September 26, with the director of the company and the staff who had presented the product, still in the development phase and therefore not yet produced commercially, much less registered.

It was learned that it isn’t true that the relatives of “Che” and Chávez approved such utilization of their names, as one of the company executives had told the United States news agency Associated Press.

Because of this grave error, the appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken.

Initiatives of this nature will never be accepted by our people or the Revolutionary Government.

The symbols of yesterday, today and forever are sacred.

Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers