Manuel Moreno Fraginals was a great scholar, a courageous man and a loyal friend. I had read his masterpiece "The Sugar Mill" (probably the best Cuban economic history book) and was very interested in meeting him. At that time I was the Director of the Center for Latin American Studies of the University of Pittsburgh and, learning that Moreno was coming to the United States, I immediately invited him to give a lecture at Pitt. He came and gave a first-rate lecture. I was astonished at the information he had on the current state of the sugar industry in Cuba, but even more so on his frankness and criticism. This was the first time I have heard somebody coming from Cuba speaking in that open manner, and my admiration for him increased even more. After the lecture, having dinner at home, Moreno told me a wonderful story: In 1969 I had published in the United States a critical essay on the availability and reliability of Cuban statistics and, disregarding the risks, he translated my essay into Spanish and circulated it within the island. In the mid-1980s, when my work was the target of fierce criticism by Cuban officials and sympathizers abroad, who accused me of leading "Cubanology" (supposedly the US ideological offensive against Cuba), Moreno --who was in the Island--wrote me a letter giving me full support, reacting against such criticism and saying many Cubans shared his feelings. After he came permanently to the Unites States, we met several times at Florida International University and I strongly supported him for the Bacardi chair at the University of Miami (one he deserved but unfortunately never got). I saw him last time in Madrid, right before the publication of his excellent book on Cuba and Spain. He was almost blind but, when recognizing my voice, he embraced me warmly and, despite his fragility, he gave a superb lecture on his new book. Moreno never saw my dedication to him of my latest book "Market, Socialist and Mixed Economies: Comparative Policy and Performance--Chile, Cuba and Costa Rica": " To Manuel Moreno Fraginals, compatriot, colleague and friend, who aroused my interest in the economic history of Latin America and Cuba." He taught and/or inspired scores of social science historians, in Cuba and abroad, who are a living tribute to his memory. I am proud to be one of them.

Carmelo Mesa-Lago
Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Economics and Latin American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, and Professor and Research Scholar on International Relations and Latin America at Florida International University.