Fidel’s Presence in Matanzas Highlighted at Centenary Colloquium

The Matanzas colloquium for the centenary of Fidel Castro Ruz — the personality to whom the 34th International Book Fair is dedicated — became a deep reflection on the imprint, thought, and action of the Commander-in-Chief in this province.

Held at the Provincial Party Committee headquarters, the opening remarks were delivered by Efrahim Pérez Izquierdo, director of the Provincial Book and Literature Center, who introduced the panel, headed by National History Prize winner Urbano Martínez Carmenate and composed of renowned historians Gladys Pérez, Clara Enma Chávez, Olga Lidia González, Carlos Torrens, and José Luis Cañizares.

Clara Enma Chávez addressed Fidel’s stay in this province before the triumph of the Revolution, in his work as a lawyer defending the peasantry and as a representative of the Orthodox Party, which allowed him to meet Mario Muñoz, the Arará brothers, and Julio Reyes Cairo, among other revolutionaries.

Gladys Pérez, who was able to publish the first book on the presence of the Maximum Leader in this territory, pointed out that it is a valuable compilation of every place he visited since the triumph of ’59 and emphasized how Fidel chose Matanzas for the start of many transcendent economic and social projects.

Olga Lidia González highlighted that Fidel dedicated special interest to the development of sports with opportunities for all Cubans and to the attention to high-performance athletes, which led to positioning Cuba in top places worldwide.

For his part, Carlos Torrens referred to Fidel’s powerful influence on the advancement and consolidation of Cuban culture. Here, the sensitivity and understanding of the fundamental nature of art were expressed through support for literary and artistic movements.

Professor Cañizares, president of the Scientific Council of the University of Matanzas, specified two core ideas of his thought. First, the constitution of the People’s Power organs, inspired by Martí’s ideals. And second, the new political-administrative division of the country, which provided a more just and equitable vision of each territory.

Audience interventions highlighted the essential nature, in these times of transformations the nation is experiencing, of safeguarding the humanist principles that have characterized this struggle.

Also present were Colonel Raúl Escalona, Rebel Army combatant; Osbel Marrero Acosta, Provincial Director of Culture; Yanko Hernández, president of the Union of Historians in Matanzas; authorities, and researchers from various spheres.