Jorge Luis Echarte

Political career Echarte’s involvement in public life peaked during the mid-1930s, a period of significant political instability following the fall of Gerardo Machado. Secretary of Public Works: In September 1935, Echarte was appointed Secretary of Public Works under the provisional presidency of Carlos Mendieta. His appointment was seen as a move to bring technical expertise to the cabinet during a time of social and economic restructuring. Following Mendieta’s resignation, he continued in this role under President José Agripino Barnet through mid-1936. For his service to the nation, President Barnet awarded Echarte the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, Cuba’s highest diplomatic honor.

Personal life and death Echarte was married to Carmen Romero Ochoterena, and the couple had three children: Jorge, Luis and María Teresa Echarte Romero. Following the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Echarte and his family emigrated to the United States. They settled in Miami, Florida, where he lived until his death in July 1979 at the age of 88.