Manuel Ray Rivero

Manuel Ray Rivero (1924 – November 12, 2013) was a Cuban born engineer, politician and revolutionary, who was later involved in civic and professional actitivities in Puerto Rico.

He returned to Cuba in 1949 to work in the field of engineering, and later became project manager for the construction of the Havana Hilton Hotel.

The Civic Resistance movement undertook multiple sabotage and propaganda actions against the Batista regime, principally in Havana and other major cities of Cuba.

After Fidel Castro took power in Cuba Ray accepted the position of Minister of Public Works (January 1959).

In November 1959, Ray resigned from his position due to his disagreement with the increasing Communist influence in the Cuban government.

About a month after the failed invasion, on May 28, 1961, Ray gave a news conference in Miami announcing his break with the CRC.

The Bahamian government confiscated all weapons and supplies and briefly jailed the group, who eventually was deported back to the United States.