Blackball, New Zealand, 2 May 2015. As part of the International Workers' Day activities Antonio Guerrero’s painting exhibition "I Will Die As I’ve Lived" was inaugurated in the Museum of Working Class History in this city, and it was attended by a large number of people, including the Mayors of the cities of Greymouth and Buller District, Mr. Tony Kokshoorn and Mr. Garry Howard, union leaders, other local authorities, friends of solidarity from several cities in New Zealand and public in general.
The presentation of the exhibition, which was conducted by the Ambassador of Cuba Maria del Carmen Herrera Caseiro, aside from paying a fitting tribute to the heroic feat of the five Cuban patriots, became a call to continue the fight in defence of the Cuban Revolution, especially for the lifting of the blockade against Cuba.
In her words, the island’s representative recalled the presentation in the same place of Gerardo Hernandez’ cartoon exhibition two years ago, moment in which the Heroes were still unjustly imprisoned. While explaining the content of Antonio’s watercolours, she referred to the greatness of the mission conducted by the Five and thanked the support received by the thousands of people around the world who tirelessly fought for their release, noting in this context the importance of continuing the fight for the end of the unjust blockade against Cuba. "Today the Five are back in Cuba thanks to the energetic efforts of the Cuban government and people with the support of the international solidarity and they continue with their people, shoulder to shoulder, in the fight against the blockade and in defence of the socialist homeland" said the Cuban diplomat.
The occasion was also conducive to pay tribute to the Museum’s Director, Mr. Paul Maunder, a prominent activist for the freedom of the Five and firm supporter of Cuba and its ideals, who received from the hands of the Cuban Ambassador two copies of the Pathfinder booksabout the Cuban Heroes.
In parallel, the Museum’s expansion was inaugurated with the opening of an allegorical exhibition of the mining past of the city.