The celebrations for the 31st anniversary of the Asociación Cubana de Traductores e Intérpretes (ACTI) took place in Havana, at the headquarters of the Translator and Interpreter Services Team (ESTI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
‘We would like to congratulate ACTI, which is not ageing, but maturing. As the umbrella institution for this wonderful association, we are honoured to have you here’, said Gustavo Machín Gómez, ESTI’s Director General, during his opening speech.
ACTI’s President, Gretchen González Nieto, urged us to come together to face the challenges of the digital era, where ‘artificial intelligence and new technologies are not just tools, but opportunities to enhance global communication, preserve cultural diversity, and accelerate human development. In this context, ACTI reaffirms its commitment to excellence, ethics and collaborative innovation, always striving to build a better, more connected and more inclusive world’.
Translators, terminologists and interpreters learned about the Miradas a la Traducción award, presented for the first time by the Cuban Book Institute. Five translators were recognised for their exceptional work: Ramona de los Ángeles Olivera Guerra, Gloria Emma Riva Morales, María Elena Silva Miranda, Ana Elena de Arazoza, and Virgilio López Lemus. This award was presented in early 2025 during the 33rd Havana International Book Fair (FILH) and will be conferred at each future fair to the three best published translations from the previous year.
The gathering to commemorate 14 May 1994 – the date ACTI was founded – also promoted the professional development of a new generation of translators, with the official launch of the second edition of the Young Translators Contest.
During ACTI’s 31st anniversary, hearty congratulations from sister organisations and colleagues around the world poured into Havana for members across the country. The event was enriched by pieces from Cuban composers Carlos Fariñas and Leo Brouwer, which were performed by Ernesto Quintanó Cruz, lead guitarist and director of the Cuban Youth Guitar Orchestra.
Article originally published in Radio Enciclopedia.
Text and photos: José Luis Álvarez Suárez