By: Sheila Barros Fals & Alejandro García Gutiérrez

Social indiscipline continues to attack the safeguarding of the patrimonial values of Camagüey city. And it is that repeatedly dawns with the sad news that an act of vandalism was perpetuated against some public space in the city.

This was the case with the Avellaneda monument located on the homonymous street, one of the main arteries of the city, from which one of its lights was stolen.

This is not the first time it has happened, on previous occasions a new lamp was placed almost immediately, however, this type of equipment is imported, its costs increase considerably in the market and for this reason the Historian’s Office does not have the resources to replace them.

People’s opinion

“Sometimes they are young people who pass through the place, other times they are people with mental illnesses. One can call their attention, but they do not pay attention. This robbery is a more serious case, but it is not the only indiscipline, they have put handcuffs on Avellaneda’s hands, torn cardboard, pieces of plaster and any number of other things,” says Jorge Arias, a worker at an institution near the place.

On the other hand, the neighbors also show concern with this matter. “That is not just a vandalism act, but a sign of disrespect to one of the most emblematic personalities of Camagüey. That light also helped to illuminate the street itself, which is now dark, moreover, the monument cannot be seen at night.”

Facts that still remain in the memory

Avellaneda is not the only case. Last year, in the midst of a pandemic, several public spaces were affected by these actions; an issue that shows that citizen and institutional action continue to contract debts with the protection of heritage and that the sense of belonging is not enough: the competent authorities must also take charge of watching over, detecting and holding the guilty responsible.

The Revolution Square, Agramonte Park, the allegorical sculpture of Camilo Cienfuegos, Las Leyendas Park and Workers’ Square, suffered the theft of elements that make up these places, such as: benches and lights; while the Aguada de Pineda site was left, once again, without the bronze plaque that alludes to the history of the place.

Another site that does not escape unscrupulous acts is the General Cemetery, which in recent years has seen the effort and dedication of many people form Camagüey; while others have been in charge of removing letters from epitaphs and attacking the historical memory and funerary heritage of the city.

Sadness and pain expose all these actions that we would like not to proliferate more in our society, because lack of money do not justify vandalism and disrespect for the history of the country and those who built it. These acts cannot be normalized, the full weight of the law must fall on those who commit them. Respect, civility, adherence to historical memory and discipline must continue to be principles of our society; right in this land that germinated the spirituality of Avellaneda.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García