Enrique Oltuski

Enrique Oltuski Osacki (18 October 1930 — 16 December 2012) was a Cuban government minister who participated in the Cuban Revolution.^{[1] [2]}

Biography

Oltuski was born in Kobryn, Poland(currently a territory of Belarus).When he was four he emigrated to Cuba together with his father-a Jewish shoemaker. He went to study at the University of Miami, where he became a brother of Phi Iota Alpha. He graduated in 1954 with a degree in architectural engineering. A year later, he was hired by Shell Oil Co. to design gas stations throughout Cuba. While working for Shell he began a double life. He used his job at Shell as a cover for helping Fidel Castro in overthrowing Gen. Fulgencio Batista, who had grabbed power in a 1952 coup.

During the Cuban Revolution Oltuski was responsible for the July 26 Movement in the province of Las Villas (now Villa Clara). In that capacity confronted with the Che Guevara when he came to the guerrilla columns in October 1958 in order to control the region. But both became personal friends and Oltuski would work under Guevara′s orders for five years.

Oltuski was a classic representative of what was called "the plain" as opposed to "the mountains" in the July 26th Movement, the sector is less radical, and more committed to the goal of overthrowing Fulgencio Batista and establish a liberal democracy.

After the triumph of the revolution, he was one of three ministers of the July 26 Movement who were present at the first cabinet under the presidency of Manuel Urrutia Lleo. He took over as Minister of Communications. He was soon appointed Vice President of the Central Planning Board, where he served for five years under the command of Ernesto Guevara.

Until his death in 2012 he served as Deputy Minister of the Fishing Industry.

Publications

From the year 2000 has begun to publish some books:

• Gente del llano (2000)
• Pescando recuerdos
• Vida Clandestina: My Life in the Cuban Revolution

References

External links

• Enrique Oltuski, Pescando Recuerdo, Besa Editrice