The General Cemetery of Camagüey, colonial style, turns 210 yearsoldtoday, May 3rd, sincewhich date it has providedobituaryservicesuninterruptedly; therefore, itisconsideredtheoldest in Cuba still in operation.
In itsbeginningsitwas a pieceofsavannaborderedbybushes and with a simple woodendoor, withtheinscription “Respectthis place.” Thisdoorwaywasreplacedyearslaterby a masonryarch, whereitread in Latin: Beatimortui qui in Dominimoriuntur”, (Blessed are thedeadwho die in the Lord. Revelation 14.13); Thiswaspreserveduntilrecentyears, whenitwaschangedtothecurrentone: “Godofglorytothosewhoresthere.” Alloftheseinscriptions, in onewayoranother, refertothesacrednessofthe site, evokingthatGodtheFather embraces and protectsthedeceasedforalleternity.
Over time and development, thecemeterybecame captive withinitsownurbanlayout, so itslayoutis as irregular as thecity.
The Camagüey cemetery has fouraccessdoors and curiouslythe 1st. sectionorthefoundationsection, as itisalsoknown, doesnothave a door:
1- Theentrancedooron Desengaño Street, theresultofthe 1839 expansion (in the 2nd section).
2- The Central Highway gate, whichcommunicatesdirectlywiththeentrance gate on Desengaño Street (in the 4th section).
3- Thedoorto San Clemente Street (through Hortelanoalley, in the 4th section).
4- The false doorof 20 de mayo, whichwasopened in October 1885 and which, sinceFebruary 2022 after itslastrestoration, has beenopenedonsignificantdays, such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and AllSouls’ Day (in the 3rd section).
Thissacred place perpetuatesthememoryofsomepersonalities, whosephysicallocationoftheir mortal remainsisunknown, sinceSpanishcolonialismsilencedtheirlastresting place, so thattheywouldnotbecome symbols; someofthem are: Francisco Agüero Velazco and Manuel Andrés Sánchez, Amado Oscar de Céspedes y Céspedes and Major General Ignacio Agramonte.
The Office of Historian and its Francisco Sánchez Betancourt SchoolofTrades, in coordinationwiththe Provincial and Municipal DirectoratesofCommunalAffairs, theUniversityof Camagüey, the Cuban Fundfor Cultural Assets, theRestoration Company, Self-EmployedWorkers, and new formsofmanagementwill continue workingtomeettheproposedobjectives, sincetherehabilitationofthecemeteryrepresentstherescueof a distinctivejewelofthecity.
Thisinterventioniscarriedoutbyfightingvariousfactors, such as environmental, physical, chemical and biologicaldamage; as well as thelackof material and financialresources. Itisthedutyoftheadministration, theworkers and theentirepopulationtocontributetotherespect and protectionofthis place. Compliancewith Urban PlanningRegulations, achievingcitizenresponsibility and preventingvandalismisencouraged; which are also causes that can contributetodestroyingtreasuredwealth in thisrespectable and dignified site.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
