Dear brothers and sisters of churches and partner institutions of the SET, we greet you in the name of our common Lord Jesus Christ, while we thank you very much for your expressions of concern and for your prayers in relation to the current situation we are going through in our country.
We have been experiencing an acute economic and values crisis since the “special period” (1990s), when the Soviet Union and the socialist countries of Eastern Europe were dissolved, from which we have not yet managed to recover. Throughout all these years, this crisis has been aggravated by several factors.
On the one hand, the aggressive policy of the US governments against Cuba, particularly during the Donald Trump administration, which imposed 242 measures against our people to try to drown us, much of the time during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the June 23 session of the United Nations General Assembly, 184 nations voted in favor of the Cuban Resolution against the blockade, with 2 votes against and 3 abstentions.
On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought several negative consequences: the very regrettable loss of loved ones, which has a great emotional impact on the people. But, in addition, the State loses millions of dollars mainly due to the fall in tourism and still invests millions of dollars to try to heal and save the people. A significant example of this is the development of scientific research and the production of five vaccine candidates against COVID-19 (Soberana 01/02 / Plus, Abdala and Mambisa). Cuba recently authorized its Abdala vaccine, amid the worst outbreak of the pandemic. The project showed effectiveness greater than 92% with the application of three doses in the last phase of clinical trials and it becomes the first Latin American vaccine. However, we are suffering a collapse of health institutions, particularly here in the city and province of Matanzas, the current epicenter of the pandemic at the moment, and there is a great shortage of medicines.
And finally, the crisis has been intensified by the economic measures taken by the state at the beginning of this year. Even when salaries have been increased and the promise that no one will be left helpless has been reiterated, the truth is that the population sometimes has to pay five times more for food and electricity, water, gas and telephone services, etc.
In recent days, particularly last Sunday, July 11, there have been riots, protests and vandalisms, mainly caused by many accumulated dissatisfactions, all these years, which have worsened in recent months, but also because they have been encouraged and promoted from outside from the country (in a very opportunistic way) and also from within the nation, through social networks. Even though these disturbances no longer exist in the country as they occurred last Sunday, there is a “tense calm.”
As churches we are interceding for our people, consoling, caring, producing and sharing meaning, offering a message of faith (strength and hope), of dialogue, reconciliation and peace with justice. In addition, offering ‘solidarity and witness’, carrying out works of diakonia or service (through the Aguas Vivas projects, helping with the feeding of the most vulnerable, serving with laundry, especially the elderly).
In the case of the SET, last days in June, the only Pediatric Hospital in the province of Matanzas exceeded its maximum capacity. The Ministry of Public Health of the province requested the Seminary to serve as an annex center of the hospital to house children suspected of COVID-19, with their respective companions, to which it was agreed, following the long tradition of service to Matanzas civil society of our institution.
On June 20, a joint meeting was held and intense work was done to create the conditions in the visitor building, also protecting both the members of our community and the properties. It was possible to enable 120 distributed capacities for patient-positive children for the disease, children with suspected disease and an accompanying family member. In addition, adults, suspicious and positive for COVID are treated, as well as a team of 10 people, doctors and nurses for hospital care. Since June 21, the facility has been occupied to the maximum of its capacity, discharging those who recovered, but also transferring those who required it to the intensive care unit.
At the moment, 10 SET workers are working in the different areas. The kitchen team prepares food for 140 people each day, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks. In addition, even though the Ministry of Public Health is facilitating all logistics, including food, the SET provides the infrastructure, covering its expenses.
In the educational order, the campus in Matanzas is closed and our Higher Ecumenical Institute of Sciences of Religions (ISECRE) continues to work in a virtual way even in the middle of the “holidays”. We are preparing to start the new academic year 2021-2022 on Monday, August 30 and we are learning to carry out the distance teaching / learning processes for which we appreciate the sharing of the practices of sister institutions abroad that have more experience. We understand that the great challenge for us today is the formation of a renewed pastorate and leadership in the churches and in other religious expressions that serve in Cuba, for the new times, for this Kairos of our nation, in a post-COVID period that already it will not be the same and to participate proactively in the new society that we are trying to build.
We greatly appreciate your consistent support in solidarity, through your prayers and through public advocacy to lift the blockade, which even directly damages our bilateral mission relations, by hindering the sending of financial resources to our Seminary, including from other countries, due to its extraterritorial nature. We request an international campaign that opposes a possible military intervention against our country, instigated by politicians in that nation, especially of Cuban origin. We will also appreciate donations of medicines and food for which we will send the instructions soon.
Most gratefully, your brother on mission,
Carlos E. Ham S.
Rector of SET Matanzas, July 12, 2021
Caption: Evangelical Theology Seminary Photo: Radio Trinidad