July, 2022.- Sharing with Commander in Chief Fidel Castro is a possibility that many will not be able to experience, however in Nuevitas, a municipality northeast of Camagüey, some men and women treasure that privilege in their memory.
Such is the case of Jesús Martínez Primelles, who recalls moments of the 1970s, of the last 20th century, at the 10 de Octubre thermoelectric plant in the industrial city of Camagüey.
“In those moments, it was a pride for all of us who were there to have a man of his category present, an intelligent person who spoke in a low voice asking for every detail and had to give him good answers because he knew everything.”
Jesús started working at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant in 1972. He says that after being demobilized from the Centennial Youth Column, he and a group of colleagues took a course to start up Unit 2, the date Unit 1 was undergoing maintenance capital.
Once they gained experience, they were responsible for starting Unit 3, which synchronized the National Electroenergetic System in 1979.
“Then there were some problems in the turbine bearing, and while the block was out of service when we went to work at three in the afternoon, we were informed that an important visit would come to the plant. We saw through the windows that a commission of great leaders arrived and, among them, was the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel.
After his arrival he went up to Thermal Control to greet me he shook my hand and also asked why the unit was out of service to which I replied that there were problems in a turbine due to vibrations in the bearing and we were waiting for it to cool down”.
Likewise, he narrates that after that exchange he continued the conversation with the directors and left. Meanwhile, Fidel returned to the Caldera and to where the turbine was.
As part of his long career, Jesús Martínez Primelles also participated in the start-ups of units 4, 5, and 6, moments that gave him other opportunities that he considers unmatched.
“On another occasion, unit 4 had already started ,and unit 6 was in process, Fidel visited us again, but unlike the previous visit there were already more colleagues there ,and we did not talk directly. I got a little nervous because of the importance of their presence at the 10 de Octubre”.
A new experience took place while working in the micro brigades, the Commander in Chief passed by in a jeep and greeted those present.
Jesús Martínez Primelles, who retired 18 calendar days ago, proudly recalls the privilege of exchanging with one of the most valuable men for Cuba and the world, Fidel, and shares his experience with the new generations to convey to them the simplicity and responsibility that characterized the Eternal Commander.
