By Alina Perera Robbio
Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, President of the Provincial Defense Council of Santiago de Cuba, is another of those strong and courageous Cuban women who inspire admiration. This Thursday afternoon, she welcomed the country’s leadership from the municipality of Contramaestre.
At the foot of the Orlando Pantoja Tamayo Hospital, the leader described the situation in the area, the damage the hurricane left in Guamá, the place where Melissa’s eye entered eastern Cuba.
After discussing damage to housing, warehouses, and bakeries, as well as devastated agriculture and flooding, the hospital became the next topic of conversation. It suffered partial damage. However, it is also known that services were reorganized amidst a night of gusty winds, and that medical equipment and patients were preserved. The birth of eleven babies during the hurricane is astonishing, for example. Regarding this, Díaz-Canel Bermúdez remarked that this was life prevailing despite everything and against all adversity.
“The people… heartbroken but optimistic, with confidence. It’s what you say: we are alive, and where there is life there is hope,” Beatriz Johnson told the Head of State, who praised the fact that “the municipalities and provinces acted very well, and that the people also cooperated.”
In another meeting with the population, this time in the Santiago de Cuba municipality of Contramaestre, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba wanted to, “first, acknowledge the way the people acted, with unity, responsibility, and above all, great discipline, adhering to all levels of organization, preparation, and the actions and measures guided by the Municipal Defense Committee and the Provincial Defense Committee.”
“And I believe that has a lot to do with the result we have achieved.” Díaz-Canel recalled that the eastern part of the island was impacted by a very complex event like this one, “amid the situation we are currently experiencing”; he spoke about the floods “that you have never experienced in the history of this territory, and yet we have not had to mourn any loss of life.”
“We are alive, and because we are alive, we will continue fighting. And now, in the recovery phase, with that same unity, we will be working to overcome all the damage caused by the cyclone.”
The Head of State affirmed that “work is underway on all necessary measures, and that there will be support from the country.” He referred “to a group of countries and international organizations, especially those within the United Nations system, that are making donations to support the country in addressing these situations.”
He also highlighted two victories: the Cuban people’s victory against the imperial blockade—a victory for the country’s survival, a victory for the Revolution’s dignity, at the United Nations—and the victory for life in the fight against Hurricane Melissa.
“Once again, we are very proud of our people,” said the President of the National Defense Council as he prepared to continue his journey to the municipality of Palma Soriano in the heroic province of Santiago de Cuba.
[ SOURCE: PRENSA LATINA ]
