In all the municipalities of Las Tunas, sometimes in more visible places, and sometimes not so much, there is the imprint of Romilio Rondón Tamayo, a man who prefers to speak little and work a lot, because “in short, that is what matters.”
Las Tunas, Cuba.- There have been 47 years since he started in this trade, although he never thought it would be that long. Little by little, he fell in love and preferred to stay, because he knows that is useful and that the result of his work is visible, lasting, and also contributes to food production.
He is a seiner, one of those who do not fear the sun, or the wires, or the mass with which he hits the posts over, and over, and over again. He prefers to defy all those inconveniences and, in the end, to look at his work with a critical spirit and a hidden joy for the compliments he receives.
“Making fences is not that difficult, what you have to do is try to get them aligned, as it should be. I make an effort and the truth is that I achieve it. Of course, it is not the work of a single person, but of all of us - he says while pointing to his companions -; we do it together.
“The wires are pulled and then the posts are put in, depending on what you want. Some are placed every two meters, others every meter and a half, and up to three meters between them.”
Romilio lets his words flow and says that he has been able to teach many, that he feels satisfied with what he has done in so many years, and that when he leaves the activity, he will do so with a guaranteed relief. And the best, formed by him.
“Next year I will turn 65 and my retirement is due. I am thinking about whether I avail myself of that right or continue working. Anyway, now I can tell you that I will work as long as I have the strength and the will because it gives me a lot of pride when I pass a place and see a fence made by me.”
“If I added up what I have done, it would be kilometers and kilometers. For them, they will remember me.”
He is modest and insists that his work is like any other, only that it lasts a little longer; but deep down he knows that life grows in each of the areas fenced by him, through crops of different species, or the cows, rams and goats that graze in these places.
He has spent almost all his existence in the Santa María base business unit (UEB), in the municipality of Las Tunas, where he defies the unevenness of the terrain, resists the sun's rays, makes friends, and takes pride in his work, without fear of punctures, falls and blows.
