Cuban President Decorates Women with Extraordinary Merits

 HAVANA, Cuba, Aug 21 (ACN) Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (CCPCC) and President of the Republic, today headed the decoration ceremony for women with extraordinary merits in various spheres, on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC).

The event began with the everlasting memory of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro and Vilma Espin, eternal president of the organization, and was also attended by Political Bureau members Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister, and Teresa Amarelle Boué, secretary general of the FMC.

The ceremony took place in the El Laguito Protocol Hall, where the Mariana Grajales and Ana Betancourt orders were awarded to five and 19 outstanding compatriots, respectively; the 23rd of August Distinction to nine; the commemorative seal for the 65th Anniversary of the FMC to another five; and recognitions to an equal number of federation members.

The Cuban President conferred the honorary title of Heroine of Labor of the Republic of Cuba to Doctor of Science Mayda Benigna Álvarez Suárez, who has had a outstanding career in the social and humanistic sciences and who directed the FMC's Center for Women's Studies for more than 25 years.

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

The other two compatriots decorated by the First Secretary of the CCPCC 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, second secretary of the organization, upon reading the Presidential Decree, highlighted the extraordinary merits of the decorated women and stated that they are among the many Cuban women who daily love and build, from the home, the community, production and service centers, 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.