Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce

The “Chamber of Commerce” was one of the more prestigious and better known institutions in Güines, founded in 1921 by a group of distinguished business people, among them, Manuel Fernández Troncoso, President; Manuel Rodríguez Pérez, Vice-President; Manuel González Alonso, Secretary; Isaac Martín, Vice-Secretary; José Varela, Treasurer; Pedro Urruela, Vice-Treasurer and Directors, José Maroñas, Manuel García Braña, Ramiro Cepero, Laureano Fraga, Pío Lazo, Ldo. Manuel Planas, Manuel Huerta, Luis Sánchez, Antonio Valeri, Cayetano Abascal, Fernando Madera and Francisco Artiles and as Substitute Directors, José G. Artidiello, Felipe Álvarez, Rafael M. Curbelo, José Carballido, Eugenio Alvarado, Félix Martell, Eugenio Fernández and Patrocinio Valdivia.

Its full, legal name was “Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Jurisdictional District of Güines” abbreviated to “Güines Chamber of Commerce”. The exact date of its foundation was July 31, 1921. The main purpose of the institution was to unite all Güines’ retailers and industrialists, in order to coordinate and facilitate the tasks within the retail and wholesale businesses, to lower merchandise’s prices, to establish rules in the businesses related to required minimum sanitary standards to the public for perishable and non-perishable goods, to explain to its members the then existing tax system, either national, provincial or municipal, to actively cooperate with civic and military authorities in the Villa, and to increase the members’ knowledge with talks and conferences related to the development of their businesses.

Its second President was Don Manuel García Braña. The third one was Don Eusebio Alcántara and he was followed by don Constantino Díaz until his death in 1942, being replaced as the Chamber’s President by Fernando Gajano Carabeo, who started to publish on January 1943, the official bulletin of this institution named “NEC-OTIUM” (meaning “BUSINESS” in Latin). The best and more distinguished minds within Güines’ intellectual elite, collaborated in this publication, among them Valentín Cuesta Jiménez, José Alonso Novo, Ramón Torres Pardal, Vicente Lauzán Jestemín, Zenaida Valdés García, Mario A. Roque Manresa, Serafín Cortés and many others.

In 1945, Laureano Fraga Suárez replaced Gajano Carabeo as the Chamber’s President and the bulletin’s name was changed to “Bulletin of the Güines Chamber of Commerce”, keeping the same group of editors and journalists. In 1946, “Güines Retailers Association” was founded comprising another sector of businessmen. It did not compete with the “Chamber,” rather both institutions complemented each other, serving and representing different segments within the local commerce.

Finally during the 50s and the beginnings of the 60s the Chamber was presided by Manuel Díaz Díaz, a distinguished and hardworking businessman, Güines agent, among other products, of “Hatuey” malt and beer, “Materva,” “Salutaris,” “Orange-Crush” and “Ironbeer” sodas and others, who, with his dynamic personality and experience took this institution to he highest levels since its foundation.

Throughout the years, the Chamber did develop multiple activities that always benefited the local economy. During the 40’s and 50’s it sponsored fairs and festivals that were very famous. It supported civic, patriotic, religious and other type of festivities. It had a large and comfortable headquarters, in the centrally located “Balerdi Building,” across “Arango y Parreño” Park, serving as a social center for meetings and for the leisure of its members. It had a well-stocked library for the members’ use. In short, it was an institution totally identified with Güines society, that since 1921 until its closure in 1960, offered benefits, help, and progress to the Villa of Güines.

With the arrival of Communism in Cuba, this important Güines Corporation, strong representative of the free enterprise system within the private sector, was ignominiously closed by the Communist hordes, when the ill-named “Government” confiscated the most important businesses and industries throughout Cuba. The “Chamber” did not have any reason to exist.

The salons in its friendly headquarters on Trujillo Street were closed, its beautiful rocking chairs made of hardwood that embellished its wide porch, the rest of the furniture, the library, the office equipment, mimeographs, typewriters, copiers, files, etc. were stolen by the Communists, without reason or explanations.

The day will come when Cuba, free of this Marxist nightmare, will be reborn to a life of progress and prosperity and the “Chamber of Commerce” will be reopened in Güines to propel the Fatherland’s reconstruction under a system based on democracy and free-enterprise.

Continue: Institutions