The Cuban Revolution remains standing, fighting, "with its head held high and its dignity intact"

Photos by Roberto Suarez

By René Tamayo León, translated from the Spanish

CIEGO DE ÁVILA, July 25 - "On this day of remembrance and commitment, we reaffirm our unwavering loyalty to the ideas of Martí, Fidel and Raúl, a continuity based on loyalty to the principles of the Revolution," said Political Bureau member and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, during the celebration of National Rebellion Day, 72 years after the heroic feat of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks.

The National Act, awarded to the province of Ciego de Ávila, was led by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, the leader of the Revolution, along with Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic. They were joined by ten thousand residents of Ciego de Ávila, representing their community, and over 300 members of the solidarity movement from twenty different countries.

The commemoration was attended by Revolutionary Commander Ramiro Valdés Menéndez and Rebel Army Commander José Ramón Machado Ventura, along with members of the Political Bureau, the Secretariat of the Central Committee, and other leaders of the Party, the State, the Government, the UJC, and mass organizations.

In a celebration marked by the culture and history of Ciego de Ávila, Marrero Cruz emphasized that the Day of National Rebellion "is a source of pride for everyone, as it is a clear demonstration of our people's capacity for combat and resistance to preserve their independence and sovereignty in the unwavering effort to build a more just society."

"As we take on the challenges we face today," he said, "we are inspired by the courage of those young people who, led by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, led the actions of July 26, 1953, which marked the beginning of the final stage of our struggle for true independence."

Highlighting the national celebration of the anniversary in Ciego de Ávila, "the scene of numerous battles fought to achieve and preserve the independence and sovereignty of the Homeland," the Prime Minister stated that the province deserved to host the event, "Due to its stability in accomplishing its primary roles in the political, economic, and social areas, in which an effective system of collaboration between the Party, the Government, and the people has played a significant role where the active involvement of the youngest members of the public is particularly noteworthy, serving as both an expression and assurance of continuity."

"This has allowed," he added, "for progress in food production, retail trade, the food industry, and tourism, a sector in which the important tourist destination of the northern keys, Jardines del Rey, continues to develop. This became possible thanks to the vision of the Commander-in-Chief, who, during the July 26 commemoration in 1980, envisioned the idea of constructing the causeway, a project that played a crucial role in achieving these outcomes."

In Ciego de Ávila, he noted that "advancements have been achieved in restoring and maintaining social facilities. There are positive outcomes in education and in the management of science and innovation applied to local development, which help address and resolve the population's issues. Additionally, improvements are being made in service quality and defense preparedness."

"The people of Ciego de Ávila, along with others, understand that what has been accomplished is insufficient to meet the needs, leaving no room for complacency. However, at the same time, I am confident that I can express the feelings of our people by conveying a warm and well-deserved congratulation, on behalf of the leadership of the Party and the Government, and especially of beloved Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, to the compatriots of this province for the results achieved, and with them to the leaders of the Party, the Government, and mass and social organizations," the Cuban Prime Minister emphasized.

"And while," he commented, "these achievements may not be considered significant, we have observed better organization, discipline, and rigor, along with increased commitment, responsibility, and enthusiasm among the workforce."

Marrero Cruz also congratulated the province of Sancti Spíritus, stating that it "earned outstanding status, deserved to host this event in 2024, and has consistently maintained stable work in recent years."

He also extended his congratulations to the province of Guantánamo, "which deserves recognition for its support of priority programs and efforts related to Hurricane Oscar."

The Head of Government of the Republic mentioned that Ciego de Ávila, Sancti Spíritus, and Guantánamo are "the three provinces currently the vanguard, others are closely following, and the rest are also putting in a commendable effort, though their results are more modest."

BATTLES HAVE ALLOWED PROGRESS, BUT RESERVES ARE GREATER

Julio Heriberto Gómez Casanova, the first secretary of the provincial committee of the Party in Ciego de Ávila, expressed his gratitude for the territory being chosen as the headquarters for the July 26 commemorations. He noted that after this announcement, the people of Ciego de Ávila intensified their efforts in the six battles that form the Blind Political Movement on July 26, which was initiated last February to mark the 130th anniversary of the Grito de Baire.

He explained that these battles align with the four priorities endorsed by the Party and meet the 230 indicators assessed during the visits of the First Secretary of the Central Committee, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, to the ten municipalities in the province.

The work system designed—he noted—increased the connection between Party and government cadres and the people, prioritizing work in 42 neighborhoods and addressing 8,538 issues with active grassroots participation.

Gómez Casanova also commended the efforts with children and youth, the commitment of Ciego de Ávila's doctors and teachers, and the achievements in other social sectors like sports and culture. He emphasized the importance of energy recovery, which has been prioritized and enabled Ciego de Ávila to establish seven solar farms, three of which have a capacity of 21.8 MW, constructed in just nine months.

The first secretary of the Provincial Party Committee in Ciego de Ávila emphasized the successes in the productive and service sectors, including tourism, which is achieving its revenue goals; Commerce and Gastronomy, which are revitalizing their key establishments; net sales, profits, and merchandise circulation, all surpassing their targets; and a reduction in the provincial budget deficit by 42 million euros. He also noted the accomplishments in agriculture and other economic sectors.

In Ciego de Ávila, he said, "the battles have allowed us to advance, but the reserves and what remains to be done are greater than what has been achieved."

LET US ALL JOIN THE DAILY BATTLE

In his concluding speech at the National Rebellion Day celebrations, Political Bureau member and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz reflected on the country's history, achievements, and present challenges, emphasizing that today, "like never before, Cuba faces enormous challenges, both internal and external."

However, he added, the "ability to overcome every obstacle is an inseparable part of our national identity and the revolutionary history of the Cuban people.

"Following the example of the Centennial Generation," he noted, "we are here to tell the world that with its head held high and its dignity intact the Cuban Revolution remains standing, fighting, and not giving up on building a sovereign, independent, socialist, democratic, prosperous, and sustainable society."

Marrero Cruz once again condemned the U.S. government's aggressive actions against the Revolution and the tightening of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade.

"External aggression is constant and significantly affects all sectors of society, but being aware of this and reporting it in every possible forum doesn't mean we sit back or attribute all problems solely to the blockade," he later noted.

There are also, he explained, "internal challenges, mistakes, and deficiencies that we need to address and overcome through our own efforts, firmly believing that Yes, We Can, primarily through the determination, hard work, intelligence, and dedication of the Cuban people."

"It is true," Marrero Cruz noted, "that there are many problems that remain, and not all of them can be resolved as quickly as we would like. However, I assure you that we will persist in finding the most sensible solutions for each situation, within the limits of the economy. These efforts are evident daily through practical actions and a heightened commitment from our people."

"The country's leadership," the Prime Minister later reflected, "has emphasized the need for everyone to participate in the daily struggle against our own errors that worsen the objective challenges stemming from external factors."

"In other words, we need to work more efficiently, eliminate obstacles, and correct the deficiencies in our economic management so that the people's efforts translate into tangible results."

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