CAMAGÜEY.- Unlike most of the other Cuban cities, Camagüey puts on the shoulders of its citizens a historic, politic, and cultural heritage of great importance. Being a Camagüey citizen implies, above all, being familiarized with tradition and values that have been accumulating without any stop.

In Puerto Príncipe surged the first national literary work – Espejo de Paciencia (Mirror of Patience) -, and I still trust that the day arrives when it gets approved, officially, its character as birthplace of the Cuban literature. The contribution of this city to national culture has been enormous; as it is borne out by names like Gertrudiz Gómez de Avellaneda; – a statue has been erected as a tribute, by the way with little resemblance – Aurelia Castillo, Nicolás Guillén, Rolando Escardó and others.

Another characteristic of being a Camagüey citizen has to do with the defense of its city´s decoration, which has been undertaken with more emphasis in the last time. In the 18th century, many big buildings like two hospitals – one for women and another for men- and several temples were built. In great extent, their construction was defrayed by the city´s inhabitants.

That spirit of citizen collaboration has to be defended to all cost; that´s why it is intolerable conducts that attempt against the preservation of our patrimony, but also those of immaterial culture and urban conduct, often damaged by unspeakable acts like answering the call of nature in the streets, not only at night but also even during the day. It is not needed that Unesco declares this city as a World Heritage site, to defend the peculiar beauty of Camagüey, whose architecture, has characteristics that differentiate our city from the rest of the country.

It fill us with pride that this territory is characterized by its patriotic devotion. It´s important to mention that from the 19th century to the 21st century every battlefront has counted with the presence of the Camagüey citizens. Tradition and progress have always marked the aspirations of its best citizens. We hope it will be this way forever.

Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez