Our city turned 507 years since it was founded on February 2nd, and we have been lucky that since 1978 it was declared a National Monument, but we have been even luckier for having achieved in 2008 that a part of our Historic Center, was declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, titles that very few cities in the world hold.
Different characteristics distinguish us, such as urban architecture, traditions, and of course, to our pride, the neatness of the streets together with the preservation of that heritage that our ancestors left us. And when I say pride, I do it consciously, because we hear not a few outsiders say this with satisfaction.
However, for some time now, events have been observed in our city that are far from that healthy and authentic pride that has characterized us. It is no secret to anyone that the arrival of the pandemic in the world has transformed everything, and of course our country is no exception; neither Camagüey.
We have had to adapt our lives to so many different customs, to different ways of behaving, in all senses; that sometimes we are amazed at what we have learned.
But while it is true that we are growing as human beings, it is also necessary to say that we are losing, from my point of view; other values. Values that could make us pay a price in the future if we do not correct them in time and put an end to some barbarities that swarm these days in the city, my city of waterpots, churches and good customs.
With pain I have observed that on the sidewalk in front of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, located in the Workers’ Square, one of the five foundational places of the town of Santa María in Puerto del Príncipe; in which every February 2nd the mambisa reveille is played live as a sign of waking up the locals to celebrate a new anniversary of its foundation, as happens in the remaining four, unfortunately, someone have painted on top of its cobblestones -not so long ago placed, and by the way, very expensive-, some squares with white paint every certain distance; signaling the place where people should stand to wait in line for La Gran Señora store and the ATM, in this COVID period.
It was then that I asked myself, because I really don’t know: Would this action be consulted with the relevant entities and authorities? If so, was it the right decision? Is this the only way to resolve such issue? And the people who have been prepared to avoid big crowds and against all odds risk getting infected, are they not enough?
From my point of view they are questions that we must seriously dwell on, whether we are decision-makers or not; well, the mere fact of being from Camagüey should move us to reflect every day about the good and bad that occurs in our town.
That is why today I did not hesitate to make this comment, because it seems to me that as my grandmother said, and being sure that this is not a glory at all: “… with glories you cannot forget memories …”, And because history does not stop after a few years, I repeat, these actions, always made with good intentions, may take their tall, and lead us to other paths.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
