"I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays
down his life for the sheep"-. John 10:11
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| Father Jose Conrado |
Letter from Father Jose Conrado to the First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party regarding the Victims of Hurricane Sandy in Santiago de Cuba
Mr. Lázaro Expósito
First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party in Santiago de Cuba
Mr. Secretary:
I am writing to you in your capacity as
the highest political authority in our province of Santiago de Cuba. I
am aware that, given the hierarchical structure of the Church, by rights
it is not for me to undertake this effort, but rather for my
Archbishop, Mons. Dionisio García, and I have repeatedly suggested that
he do so. But following the dictates of my conscience, and from a basic
sense of personal responsibility toward our people, on the eve of my
perhaps definitive separation from the people of Santiago de Cuba whom I
love so much, I am addressing this letter to you.
In recent months we have experienced the
tragedy of a people who have lost everything or almost everything they
had to survive: as you know more than a hundred thousand Santiago de
Cuba families have been affected by Hurricane Sandy. We have watched
with amazement the delivery of aid for our people from so many
countries.
And with amazement we watched how this
aid was sold for hard currency, or at inflated prices, in flagrant
violation of the the intent of the donors who gave it freely. We have
received information from reliable people who have followed the trail of
the transports and have seen how this aid, above all the roofs, were
stored in State or military warehouses, while the population was
informed that these materials had already been exhausted.
With amazement we have seen government
or military installations repaired in record time, while the people
continue without roofs over their heads, with their houses uncovered.
We are witnesses to the frustrations of
the people, to their desperation and helplessness, to a voiceless and
threatening silence that makes us think that at any moment they could
explode with an uncontrollable and justified rage, which could have dire
consequences for the coexistence of our citizens.
Many times, on going to offer them our
humble aid, almost all of it sent by other Cubans on the rest of the
island, poor as the victims themselves, we have heard, “You are the only
ones who remember us, the only ones who have assisted us”!
Mr. Secretary, the people perceive you
to be an honest man, who works hard to fulfill his obligations and who
cares about the people. We have also heard that corruption and
incompetence surround you on all sides and, much to your dismay, hinder
your work. All of this saddens and worries us.
As a priest, I have renounced having my
own family. Along with some of my colleagues, when our families, parents
and siblings decided to abandon our country, we decided to stay to
serve our people in their misfortune. These people are our family: our
parents, our children, our brothers and sisters. We live for them and we
are willing to die for them. If today we raise our voices, at whatever
risk it might entail, including being misunderstood, it is to seek a
solution to so much misery and pain, and because we are not inclined to
stare at the bulls from the other side of the fence, but to commit
ourselves and to help with all our strength.
I ask in the name of God, in the name of
truth and justice, and calling on your true patriotism which I do not
doubt, that you seriously investigate what has happened and quickly
remedy it.
I also ask that you yourself communicate
with the president of our country, General Raúl Castro Ruz, so that,
with the full weight of the State, repairs can be undertaken on so many
totally and partially destroyed homes, something so important for these
families affected by Hurricane Sandy. The call to the solidarity of our
people you have already demonstrated in your generosity and ability
during the hurricane and in the face of its devastating destruction.
Thus, we make possible the Nation José Martí dreamed of, “with all and
for the good of all.”
Father José Conrado Rodríguez
Reproduced from Translating Cuba from original version appearing in Penultimos Dias
26 June 2013
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