- by Yenia Silva
- The Guardian
- Issue #1960
The honorary title of Hero of Labor of the Republic of Cuba and other decorations were placed on the chests of men and women who have devoted their lives to the homeland, in a ceremony presided over by First Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
“Your example has special significance, as the response of Cuban workers, labourers and professionals, fighting, thinking and working as a country, contributing decisively to the continuity of this beautiful revolutionary work,” stated José Antonio Pérez, member of the CTC (Federation of Cuban Workers) national secretariat.
At the proposal of the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) and CTC Secretary General, the President issued Decree no.237 granting the title of Hero of Labour of the Republic of Cuba to thirteen compañeros, including a posthumous award to Vice Admiral Julio César Gandarilla, former Minister of the Interior. His widow Minerva Sarmiento accepted the title from Diaz-Canel.
Twelve workers were awarded the First Degree Lazaro Peña Order, from different unions and territories; while four former union leaders were granted the Third Degree Lazaro Peña Order and six health and science workers, members of the Henry Reeve International Contingent of Doctors Specialised in Situations of Disasters and Serious Epidemics, were honoured with the Labour Achievement Medal.
The honorees were accompanied by members of the Party Political Bureau Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister; Roberto Morales Ojeda, Secretary of Party Organisation and Cadre Policy; and the Ministers of the FAR and Interior, Army Corps General Alvaro Lopez Miera, and Brigadier General Lazaro Alberto Alvarez, as well as CTC Secretary General Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, among others.
Heroes & Heroines of Labour:
Army Corps General Ramón Espinosa Martín
Brigadier General (R) Marcelo Verdecia Perdomo
Coronel Nicolás Ponzoa Reyes
Coronel (R) Eladio Julián Fernández
Nilia Victoria Escobar Yéndez
Ramón Conrado López
Orestes Benítez Fernández
Héctor Rodríguez Silva
Alberto Lescay Merencio
Hilda Reyes López
Crescencio Ferro Ordaz
Odel Peña Vázquez
Vice Admiral Julio César Gandarilla Bermejo (posthumous)
