A young man who used to fill theaters with magic tricks in the Isle of Youth now drives one of the few ferries that connect that territory with the rest of Cuba.
José Nemías Cardoso Camejo traded his black magician's suit for the blue uniform of a sailor, and now he serves as a helmsman aboard the ferry Perseverancia, the vessel that operates the route between Nueva Gerona and Batabanó.
Cardoso was working at the local Cultural Center when he learned about a course offered by a maritime company. He decided to enroll and chose the specialty of deckhand.
Of the approximately 60 participants who started the course, many did not complete it; he did, and shortly after, he was called to join the crew.
"That change was necessary because I enjoy both trades, magic and being a sailor," explained the young man, who as a child used to make little foam boats and set them afloat in the streets when it rained.
Today, he holds one of the most responsible positions on board: that of helmsman, who controls the course and stability of the vessel.
"For me, it is truly a point of pride, a pride to know that I carry that responsibility in my hands, a ship that costs so much and comes with all that responsibility. There are times when you feel tense, but with tremendous pride," he affirmed.
However, his daily work takes place amidst a chronic crisis. Cardoso himself describes it straightforwardly: "We are experiencing a fuel shortage, missing parts for the boat; there are times when you set out for Batabanó and don’t know if you’ll turn back or not because there’s a lack of fuel, whether it’s not being provided or a part or engine has broken down."
Despite everything, the helmsman says he does not regret the change. And in his spare moments on board, he doesn't completely abandon his first profession: "When I have free time on the ship, I do my personal magic work."
When asked if there is magic in the sea, he replied without hesitation: "Yes, there is magic in the sea, of course there is."
That scenario is not new, as Perseverancia has accumulated a long list of interruptions.
In May, the government of the Island of Youth requested donations of an electric motor or wire to be able to repair it.
One month later, the Ministry of Transport reduced the service to just one trip per week due to a fuel shortage.
And the drama intensifies when it is revealed that the Isle of Youth relies almost exclusively on that maritime route for its connection to the rest of the country, making every breakdown or cut a direct problem for thousands of people.
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