By: MSc. María Inés Álvarez Garay (*)
On October 10th, 1868, the patriot lawyer Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (1819-1874) freed his slaves and raised the Cubans in arms, the first founding event of the Revolutions of National Liberation in the largest archipelago of the Antilles.
The ringing of the bell of his sugar mill La Demajagua, Manzanillo, in the east of the country, signified a triumph of independence ideas, against Spanish colonialism, and the reformist and annexationist currents of that time.
In the La Demajagua countryside property, in front of some 500 congregants, Céspedes said: «Citizens, that sun that you see rising from the top of Turquino comes to light the first day of freedom and independence of Cuba.»
Thus began the first war for independence in Cuba, which lasted 10 years, and had a national-liberating, democratic and anti-slavery character.
Céspedes erased that ghost from the Cuban scene by greeting his slaves who were free at that moment and inviting other owners present to do the same.
“Citizens, he exclaimed, up to this moment you have been my slaves! From now on, you are as free as I am. Cuba needs all its sons and daughters to conquer independence! «
“Those who want to follow me, follow me; those who want to stay should stay, everyone will remain as free as the others ”.
And that freedom no one has been able to take away from us throughout our history. Now the smear campaigns against the Cuban medical missions insist on calling us «slaves.»
The members of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Gambia (BMC) are «slaves» as the monster from the north shouts, yes, but we are not just any kind of «slaves», we are «slaves» of our love for the profession that we proudly exercise, and we know that We will never remove the shackles that bind us to solidarity, altruism, our vocation to save lives, our deep humanistic feelings, our unconditional love for the human being, and our firm conviction that a more just and better future for everyone it is possible.
We are «slaves» of our values and principles, forged with the sacrifice and dignity of a people who have known how to fight since October 10th, 1868 for their freedom, independence and sovereignty.
We are «slaves» of our love for the country that saw us grow and rise under the accurate direction and guidance of our undefeated and eternal commander Fidel.
We are «slaves» of what we feel, what we want and what we fight for.
We are spontaneous, creative, strong and persistent, nobody imposes anything on us, nobody forces us to save lives, alleviate suffering, prevent diseases, fight pandemics, support those who suffer natural disasters, share all our knowledge, and help those most in need. Nobody forces us to delve into science looking for a better future.
Cuban health professionals are authentic, real, and the whole world recognizes it, because we do not speak with beautiful words, we really do, we demonstrate with clear and concrete facts what we are, an army of brave people who have managed to earn prestige, love, admiration and recognition of millions of grateful people.
That glorious October 10th, 1868 Céspedes also affirmed: «Cuba aspires to be a great and civilized nation, to extend a friendly arm and a fraternal heart to all other peoples …»
Two centuries later, in West Africa, the BMC Gambia in tribute to that very momentous day for the Cuban people, wishes to reward this other slavery of which we are fully proud and of which we do not want freedom.
We are satisfied with the outstanding participation of the members of the brigade in the assistance during this period of the Covid-19, and very especially of those who work unconditionally, without sleeplessness, in the red line next to the Gambian brothers, in an open combat against the pandemic.
We have extended our friendly arm and we have given our fraternal hearts to this people who are the sons and daughters of mother Africa. Mission accomplished Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, Father of the Cuban Nation.
(*) Professor and collaborator of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Gambia
"An Island on a Continent" 