New monument to aboriginal rebellion to be erected in Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 1 (ACN) A monument to perpetuate in memory the first act of documented aboriginal rebellion of Cuba, that took place in Guanima Bay in 1513, will be erected in this town, announced Ercilio Vento Canosa, Historian of the City of Matanzas.

In a press conference about the celebration of the 325th anniversary of the foundation of this city, to be held on October 12, Vento Canosa recalled that this year it is the 505th anniversary of Pánfilo de Narváez naming the bay of Guanima as "the bay of slaughter" (Bahia de Matanzas), which later gave rise to the name of the city of Carlos and San Severino de Matanzas, in remembrance of the event occurred in the deep bay.

This is a fact that has to be dignified, is in the process of implementation a monument with a beautiful design, large, 15 meters high and located in the area of the Matanzas viaduct, said the also anthropologist and forensic doctor.

The work will be formed by reinforced concrete, large stones, and metal elements, and will be crowned by a light that will be visible from anywhere in the bay, said the Historian.

Several historical sources and specialized publications coincide in pointing out that in 1513 about thirty Spaniards arrived in the village of Yucayo after their ship was rendered useless; the group had committed outrages against the aboriginal population.

The cacique Guayucayel offered canoes to transport the foreigners, who accepted to continue the trip, but while they were moving over the waters of the bay of Guanima, present-day Matanzas, the aborigines attacked surprisingly the new arrivals and murdered most of them.

Thanks to the discovery of documents and testimonies, it was possible to reconstruct the historical passage, and learn that a few Spaniards survived and managed to reach the coast, although the bellicose chief was benevolent with the two Castilian women of the expedition, and spared their lives.