Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, a capable and experienced leader; a friendly, respectful man, always willing to listen and guide, was honored this Thursday at the Colón Necropolis. Floral offerings from the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, and the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, accompanied the military honors ceremony at the funeral.
Presided over by the Head of State, the tribute became a solemn, simple, and moving moment, in which the words of Political Bureau member and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz highlighted the value and dedication of the beloved Cabrisas, who since the triumph of 1959 remained on the front lines of combat in decisive battles for the country: "first in the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, then in the foreign service, and later as Minister of Foreign Trade, a position he held for 20 years."
"Due to his proven ability and results, in 2008 he was appointed Vice President of the Council of Ministers, a responsibility that, from 2016, he combined for two years with that of Minister of Economy and Planning, and later, between 2023 and 2024, as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment," he recalled.
The Head of Government spoke of his decisive work on each of these fronts, as a key player in the country's economic diplomacy, highlighting the unconditional dedication of someone who, "with intelligence, perseverance, and firmness, negotiated complex issues in various international settings, in which he invariably defended national sovereignty, seeking fair solutions for the Cuban people, and earning the respect and recognition of his counterparts."
Even though his attitude and results earned him multiple awards and decorations, both national and foreign, including the Honorary Title of Hero of Labor of the Republic of Cuba, his mark, the Prime Minister emphasized, is not measured only by positions and titles: "He will always be present, for the lessons he imparted to those around him, for the trust he earned, for the confidence he conveyed in every negotiation, for the honesty and simplicity with which he treated everyone, and especially for his unwavering loyalty to the homeland, the Revolution, the Party, the Government, and especially to Fidel and Raúl, whose full trust he earned."
Also attending the ceremony were members of the Political Bureau Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly of People's Power and the Council of State, and Salvador Valdés Mesa, vice president of the Republic; other members of the Political Bureau; leaders of the Party, the Government, the ministries of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Interior, as well as co-workers.
Artillery salutes, military honors, silence...; the funeral urn of Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz was placed in its niche, and Hilda, his lifelong companion, came to say her final farewell, along with family members and colleagues, including, standing close by, Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, Deputy Prime Minister.
