The remnants of the Jose Rene Riquelme Sugar Mill in Quemado de Guines, in the northern part of the central province of Villa Clara, could be the remnants of any of the 70 sugar mills that were dismantled in Cuba by the beginning of the present century.
The remains of the iron structures that were left following the restructuring of the sector are a symbol of the end of a long tradition – a form of life that revolved around the mill. The smell of the bagasse, the sound of the loud whistle that signalled the beginning of the work day, and the constant noise of the machines only live on in the memories of the locals.