Regarding the injuries caused by an attack
José Ramón Cabañas Rodríguez
20 May 2020
Specials,Politics
Translated by Walter Lippmann for CubaNews.
A statue of Cuban independence hero José Martí stands behind
a fence that has been drilled with bullet holes. Photo: AP.
In the early morning hours of April 30, the Cuban Embassy in Washington DC was hit by AK-47 rifle bullets, the product of a terrorist attack perpetrated by a citizen of Cuban origin. The information circulated immediately in the US media and throughout the world. The statements of rejection followed one another amidst the inexplicable silence of the authorities of the host country.
Several Cuban officials, including the undersigned, had the opportunity to explain the facts. We refer to the symbolism of the shots against the statue of José Martí, against the flagpole, we express satisfaction because the Cuban workers were unharmed.
When the intensity of the events of the first hours ceased, we commented among ourselves on the pain caused by seeing the damage to the facade of the Embassy. The same would have happened in any of our missions abroad. But in Washington there was a singularity.
In 2019 we had celebrated 100 years since the building was built, and it is still in excellent architectural and functional condition. This was possible because between the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2015 the Cuban State had the resources required to undertake a major repair and Cuban experts were hired to do it.
A group of restorers named CAPITEL, who work through the Cultural Heritage Fund, was selected to undertake the cyclopean task of restoring every inch of the exterior and interior spaces of the main building. The group was led by expert Enrique Estévez Almeida, a graduate of the Instituto Superior de Arte and a specialist in each of the skills required of his subordinates.
Enrique acted as the boss for whom everything was possible, who investigated meticulously, who never spoke out loud, did not say words out of tone, nor did he demand from his subordinates what he himself was not capable of doing. In the most difficult details Henry spent hours on scaffolding, not even coming down to feed himself. Enrique, being a tough man, cried when the reestablishment of diplomatic relations was announced and he knew that the jewel he had helped to recover would no longer be the headquarters of the Interests Section, but of the Cuban Embassy, with all its letters.
When the work was completed, the specialists returned to Havana and the Embassy was opened to the public. Absolutely all the visitors asked about the identity of the restorers and as a rule they expressed that Cuba would not have found in the U.S. experts like the Cubans who did the work, if it had found them it would not have been able to pay them and if it had located them and compensated them for their work, those people would not have done the work “with the heart”, as was the case of Enrique’s brigade.
Perhaps that recognition was the best reward for CAPITEL’s friends.
On the night of April 28, Enrique was sharing with his wife and son in the common home in Santa Fe, Havana, when death came suddenly to him, he was cremated the next morning, less than 24 hours after the attack. To some of us it seemed a strange coincidence, as if Enrique knew he could not bear the damage to one of his most beloved works.
Perhaps the assailant will be condemned for his vandalic assault, but he will never know the pain caused by the wound in the skin of that creature who was reborn thanks to many parents like Henry.
(Taken from CubaMinrex)
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