It is Also a Crime

By Candelario Hernández Larrondo

A few words to inform our compatriots in exile and in particular to my dear fellow Güineros, that today, thank God, are lucky enough to have left that hell of crime.

Those Güineros who arrived in this country a few years back, did not experience the sad pain of seeing the destruction of many architectural beauties that embellished the typical Cuban landscape of our beloved Villa, but fortunately for us Güineros, we have an official voice and never a better time than now during this agonizing moment of the Castro-Russian Communist system in Cuba, to let you know something that for sure will fill you with sadness.

Let’s place ourselves in the corner of Clemente Fernández and Maceo (formerly Reina) Streets. In our backs there is the store belonging to the Barrocas Family La Casa de las Medias (The House of Stockings), to the right, the old house of the Garcés Family, to the left, the grocery warehouse and store of Homar y González, formerly El Incendio (The Fire) Grocery Store who belonged to Constantino Llanio and in front of us… well, let’s tell you in short, this place’s tragedy.

Dear reader, do you remember El Paquete (The Package) Hardware Store that belonged to Don Vicente Sentí? That old two story wooden building whose wood was brought from Spain? That beautiful Basque architectural style edifice, built at the beginning of the XIX Century, the pride of all Güineros and the admiration of our visitors, because that building was unique in Cuba?

Building of hardware and pottery store "El Paquete" (The Package), Clemente Fernandez and Maceo Streets, Güines. Pastel painting by © Alejandro Asís, Hialeah, Florida - 2010

Well my dear fellow Güineros that old relic was destroyed and in front of us the only thing we see is an empty lot. Possibly the holy remains of Don Vicente Sentí were shaken when not even one Güinero opposed the commission of such crime, where illustrious Güineros spent time in companionship with old man Sentí, enjoying the wine made by him, the product of grapes he cultivated in the large hardware backyard.

One Güinero approached Dr. Lizardo Barroso, informing him of the background and historical significance of that building for Güines, but this person dismissed the request and the next day, Don Vicente Sentí’s old building, respected by time, sick minds and bastard hands attacked such structure—that held firm before so many hurricanes that hit it—demolishing it, due to arrogance, envy and hate. In short, Communism destroyed it.

So we say good bye to this place and we keep going north and one block further up in the very corner, we see the old Noy store, to the right El Cable (The Cable), to the left the old building which used to be La Teresita (Little Theresa), further down in the opposite corner, the building who used to be Boston Café belonging to Guillermo Rivas and in the opposite side, to our left, a mountain of boulders, being the smaller one about one square meter.

Somebody asked when Güines was bombed out and a voice from an octogenarian person, full of sobs, replied:

“This horrible crime was not caused by airplanes my dear son. Communist Güinero hands and those compelled to do voluntary work demolished our beloved Market Plaza, built over a century ago.”

Now you can see what used to be the pride of Güines, its beautiful colonial type arches, today laying on the ground, converted into boulders that were placed by noble and generous hands and where more than five generations worked and shopped there.

You see, another empty lot, product of the Communist clique that rules our country. We, Güineros who did not approve such Communist tyranny and are faced with this exile, from here ask for peace for those fellow Güineros laid to eternal rest, but facing such destruction, their souls are for sure shaken and to Don Vicente Sentí, Emilio Roger Calle and Ernesto Asbert, we ask for comfort and repose to their souls.

(Copied from Ecos del Mayabeque, official voice of Municipio de Güines en el Exilio, Miami, Florida,
Year I, February-April 1968, #5)

Continue to: Snipets of Local History

Güines' Valley under a light fog. View from Loma de Candela (Candela's Hill). From Isla de Cuba Pintoresca (Picturesque Island of Cuba), Havana, 1837

Cuban caney (Indian hut). Painting by Marina Peña, Hialeah, Florida