"In the face of imperial threats, we respond with more Revolution": Speech in honour of Moncada

SPEECH BY THE FIRST SECRETARY OF THE PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CUBA IN PINAR DEL RÍO, YAMILÉ RAMOS CORDERO, AT THE EVENT IN HONOUR OF JULY 26

(Translated from the Spanish)

Comrade Miguel Díaz Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic;

Colleagues of the presidency;

Guests;

Dear people of Pinar del Río,

Today we honor the heroes of the assaults on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks. Like Martí, their struggle vindicated all of Cuba, and we will continue that vindication, continuing the fight until victory, always.

Of the participants in the heroic feat of the Moncada, more than 40 were from Pinar del Río; 3 of them perished in combat, and another 13 were vilely murdered by the henchmen of the Batista dictatorship after the assault.

Exactly fifty years ago, in 1976, when our province was honored for the first time to host the celebrations for National Rebellion Day, the Commander in Chief, recognizing the role of the people of Pinar del Río in the fight against tyranny, said (and I quote):

... This province (...) gave one of the best contingents for the beginning of the revolutionary armed struggle, young people from Artemisa, Guanajay and the city of Pinar del Río which previously constituted united parts of the province of Pinar del Río. That is why we are aware of the contribution of this region of Cuba to the revolutionary struggle before July 26, after July 26, before January 1, yesterday, today and tomorrow...

Compatriots:

The people of Pinar del Río welcomed with great enthusiasm, honor and gratitude the status of host province of the central event for the 73rd anniversary of the historic action, We reaffirm that, despite the serious and challenging circumstances brought on by the U.S. government's policy of maximum pressure, our response remains steadfast: to defend the Revolution and its achievements, now with new economic and social transformations, as we continue to strengthen the majority aspiration of building a socialist society.

We are especially proud to receive this recognition, in the year of the centenary of the birth of the Commander in Chief, and of the celebration of the 95th birthday of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, leader of the Cuban Revolution, whom this people especially loves. We do not forget that on one of his visits to Vueltabajo, in January 1997, he told us (and I quote):

I love my whole country deeply, but I especially love this province. Here Maceo fought his last battles together with the Orientals who accompanied him in the Invasion and brave Pinar del Rio residents who joined him; here, in San Andrés, I said goodbye to Che before leaving for Bolivia, my mother was born here and when the ball team of the province wins or Linares hits a home run, I enjoy it just as much as you do.

Pinar del Río:

In this land, every day the effort and the will to overcome deficiencies multiplies. Despite the dissatisfaction, progress has been made in economic, social, political, ideological, and cultural spheres, reflecting the hard work and dedication of those behind this collective victory: our workers, farmers, professionals, creators, technicians, athletes, students, and fighters.

This recognition is for the noble, humble and hard-working people who have known how to advance in the face of difficulties, defying hurricanes, droughts, energy contingencies and a tightened blockade.

Any look at Pinar del Río must recall the severe damage caused by Hurricane Ian in 2022, which was devastating. Yet the town rose with equal determination, making a colossal effort to rebuild hundreds of homes, as well as schools, healthcare centers, and institutions dedicated to education, culture, and sports.

7,000 new tobacco curing houses, agricultural facilities and other facilities have been built from the ground up. Work is underway to install over a thousand photovoltaic systems for irrigation on farms, including areas used by tobacco producers and for various other crops.

The recognition of the province is also for the men and women who have worked hard in the construction and assembly of four photovoltaic parks, which generate a capacity of 87 megawatts throughout the territory; for those who advance in the energy transition in key sectors such as communications, agriculture, public health, food industry, transport and vital centers for the provision of services to the population.

The merit goes to those who have participated in the construction of 27 children's houses, for those who ensure quality indicators in general education, at the same time who from the universities, against all adversity, conclude a course with more than 1,700 graduates in 36 disciplines and maintain a direct involvement in the economic, political and social processes of the territory.

The consistent achievements in public health highlight the success and recognition of the sector. The province maintains an infant mortality rate of 4.8 per thousand live births; several municipalities managed to keep it at zero for prolonged periods, as well as maternal deaths; Life expectancy at birth is 78.1 and 1,416 professionals in the sector are part of international medical collaboration in 38 countries.

The efforts of over 50 companies and non-state sector workers, who have voluntarily and selflessly restored hospital rooms and services, along with numerous facilities in the Public Health sector, truly deserve special recognition.

Faced with the challenging scenario we face, Pinar del Rio residents are not sitting idly by. Despite some challenges, the agriculture sector keeps expanding in land used, crops sown, and tons harvested - while demand isn’t fully met yet, the path forward is clear: produce more and make the most of the many strengths our province has to offer.

70% of the national tobacco production is carried out in the plantations of the territory, the transformation in the living and working conditions of producers and their families, the growing incorporation of young people and women into these tasks and the ongoing efforts to create incentives that stimulate production is palpable.

With the income from tobacco activity, the production of various crops and other foods is also enhanced; it contributes to the recovery of workers' housing and makes concrete contributions to social policies and vital services to the population.

During this period, rice production is significant, a crop that distinguishes Pinar del Río among the largest producers of the cereal in the country.

In sports, Leyanis Pérez’s gold medal at the World Athletics Championships and her recent personal best of 15.06 meters stand out as remarkable achievements, while Mijaín López’s fifth Olympic gold continues to fuel the pride of this land of champions. It will always be so.

We recognize the loyalty, dedication, and steadfastness of the selfless members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, who, while carrying out their honorable missions, have worked side by side with the people, sharing every effort and task.

Compatriots:

Endless admiration and gratitude to everyone who gets up each day, seeking new paths, shaking off inertia, and standing strong against the challenges of these times.

The feat of Moncada continues to reveal that there are no obstacles that stop a people determined to defend its independence.

In the face of imperial threats, we respond with more Revolution.

In the face of the blockade, we respond with more work, more unity.

In the face of lies, we respond with the truth of our history and the justice of our cause.

In the year of the Centennial of our Commander in Chief, the best tribute will be to advance his work, his ideas, teachings and example, on every front of the Revolution.

Eternal glory to the heroes and martyrs of the Homeland!

Homeland or Death!

We will win!

(July 25, 2026)

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC