This Tuesday, one of Cuba's greatest sons became poetry. Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, who dedicated himself to the Revolution until his last moments, had left the earthly plane, and the news on social media unleashed a flood of emotions, memories, and farewells.
Very early Wednesday, at the headquarters of the Council of Ministers, the ashes were in a small urn, and behind them, offerings of white flowers. The first was dedicated by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, who had already sent his heartfelt condolences to the family.
The other wreaths were laid on behalf of President Díaz-Canel; Political Bureau member and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz; the Communist Party of Cuba; the National Assembly of People's Power; the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces; and the workers of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (Mincex). Throughout the day, tributes were offered by all those who came to pay their respects.
At around nine in the morning, President Díaz-Canel gave a heartfelt embrace to the family of Comrade Cabrisas; Marrero Cruz was also present; and, little by little, there were close friends, such as that of Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, Deputy Prime Minister.
It was wonderful to see women and men from various professions and trades: leaders of organizations with which Cabrisas had ties passed by; and also cleaning assistants, cooks, and Cubans who have anecdotes about that kind man.
From the emotion, Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman Waugh expressed: "Cabrisas was a great man, a great fighter, a great revolutionary. A loyal man, faithful to the Revolution," and emphasized that he was always "thinking about how to solve problems," managing from a practical perspective, and tending to be "very dynamic."
"We must always remember him like this, working hard, working for Cuba, for all Cubans." He said he was convinced that "there was always a solution to problems."
He recalled that, "until the very end, even when he was sick, he was still fighting. And that's the example we all have to follow."
Elida Valle Fernández, a woman who, after working alongside Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, accompanied Cabrisas's work for 16 years, praised "the exemplary man, hardworking, disciplined, tireless, a good friend, a good advisor."
She said that he had been in his office 15 days ago, "and I had the privilege of seeing him." When asked how he was feeling, his response was immediate: "Fine, because I'm working until the last minute."
Carlos Luis Jorge Méndez, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, commented: "Cabrisas is not only a person who distinguished himself for his knowledge, for his mastery of the issues, for being a highly respected person in Cuba and abroad, but he was, until the very end, an example of dedication, commitment, and loyalty to Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, to Army General Raúl Castro, and to the Revolution, and who strove every day to share his experience with us."
Sabina Clavel, who cleaned Cabrisas's office, said, "He was very helpful, very caring. He didn't treat people like an authority figure when they worked with him," she recalled.
At a very young age, Laura Soler Díaz, a Mincex official, declared it an honor to have accompanied him in the recent negotiations with Cuba's creditor countries in the Paris Club.
"He always taught us what discipline is, what sacrifice is, and, fundamentally, what it means to feel in your heart what Cuba means; in other words, Cabrisas never stopped thinking about Cuba: he worried every day about what was happening in the country, about the fact that there were provinces that didn't have bread, about the fact that there were provinces that didn't have electricity, and that was his main concern. In other words, his later years were almost a race against time, because he needed to do so much more. And all of that, for a young man, is something worthy of admiration."
As part of the tribute, President Díaz-Canel, the head of the National Assembly of People's Power, Esteban Lazo; the Prime Minister; and the Secretary of Organization of the Party's Central Committee, Roberto Morales Ojeda, performed a guard of honor at noon.
