*CUBAN ENTERS GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS WITH LONGEST CIGAR
Havana, February 2,2002 (RHC)--Cuban José Castelar Cairo, Friday, was
officially recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records for the
longest ever hand-rolled Havana cigar. Cairo, a cigar roller from
Havana, received the recognition for his 11-meter long cigar.
Accepting the Guinness World Record certificate for his unique
product, the smiling and now famous cigar roller told RHC that he was
surprised when the British Embassy in Havana called him to tell him
of the distinction.
"I wasn't expecting it," said 53-year old Cairo, adding he had not
made the cigar to compete with anyone. Cairo explained that hand
rolling the 11-meter long cigar had taken him nine days and enough
tobacco leaves to have produced some 1,200 gran coronas, presently
the largest of all Havana cigars.
The Havana cigar roller said he expected his Guinness World Record
cigar to attract visitors and buyers to his Morro Castle cigar, rum,
and coffee shop. He predicted that other Cubans would now see him as
an example and would work towards winning similar awards with other
products.
Cigar roller José Castelar Cairo received his official Guinness World
Record certificate from the British Ambassador in Cuba, Paul Hare,
for the longest cigar ever rolled during a ceremony Friday night at
Havana's Morro Castle.