Cuban President Decorates Women with Extraordinary Merits

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, presided over a ceremony in the capital today to decorate women for their extraordinary merits in various fields. The event was held on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC).

The ceremony began with an enduring tribute to Commander in Chief Fidel Castro and to Vilma Espín, the eternal president of the organization. Also in attendance were Political Bureau members Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister, and Teresa Amarelle Boué, Secretary General of the FMC.

Held at the El Laguito Protocol Hall, the ceremony featured the presentation of the Mariana Grajales and Ana Betancourt orders to five and 19 distinguished compatriots, respectively. The August 23rd Distinction was awarded to nine women, the commemorative seal for the 65th Anniversary of the FMC to another five, and recognitions were given to an equal number of federation members.

The Cuban President bestowed the honorary title of Heroine of Labor of the Republic of Cuba upon Doctor of Science Mayda Benigna Álvarez Suárez. Dr. Álvarez Suárez has had a distinguished career in the social sciences and humanities and led the FMC's Center for Women's Studies for over 25 years.

Similarly, Díaz-Canel presented the Mariana Grajales Order to Marisol García Cabrera, with 42 years of work in the People's Power government of Villa Clara, Ana Ramírez Velázquez, an educator with 47 years in the sector, and Doctor of Science Sonia Videaux Videaux, an academic with 41 years in education.

The other two compatriots decorated by the First Secretary were Herminia Hermendida Rodríguez Morera, a founder of the Federation and of the National Revolutionary Militias, and Tamara Silvia Columbié Matos, a jurist with 52 years of work in the FMC.

Sonya Rivero López, the organization's Second Secretary, read the Presidential Decree. She highlighted the extraordinary merits of the decorated women, stating that they are among the many Cuban women who, daily, love and build from the home, the community, production centers, services, teaching, research, and the defense of the Homeland.

Manuel Marrero Cruz and Teresa Amarelle Boué presented the Ana Betancourt Order, while other Party leaders presented the remaining awards.