The President of the Republic emphasized the importance of the work of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution to promote savings as a main resource in the current situation of restrictions on the availability of fuel for electricity production and the functioning of the economy and First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, Miguel Díaz- Canel Bermúdez, at the conclusion of the 10th Congress of this mass organization this Thursday.
Photo: Alejandro Acosta Hechavarría
“We are in a time of austerity,” the President said at the outset, referring to information about the current difficulties in fuel availability in the country.
He denied the rumors that energy sources were at zero, but pointed to the difficulties caused by the blockade, the Covid-19 pandemic and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the shortage of foreign exchange and the inability of friendly countries to deliver oil due to the measures and blockages to which they also fall victim.
Photo: Alejandro Acosta Hechavarría
Stating that this in no way negates the strategy to achieve greater stability of the national electric energy system, he explained that the maintenance of thermal power plants and distributed generation facilities will continue. Everything is managed, and why not say it, with Cuban good looks, because no one gives up here, he said.
Díaz-Canel stressed that a lot needs to be done in the neighborhood to encourage savings without giving up better living conditions, and reiterated that the government is working tirelessly to move the country forward despite the blockade.
Photo: Alejandro Acosta Hechavarría
He emphasized that saving is one of the measures that is not possible without everyone’s help and called for making the most of what we have. It’s time for the province, the municipality, the neighborhood and the CDR, he warned.
Activities such as nutrition, transportation, caring for vulnerable people, combating illegality and other social problems must be at the heart of this organization, he explained, adding that “the possibilities in our communities are endless.”
It is time for popular control and the committee has a front row seat, he concluded.
The president also pointed to important milestones such as the G77 and China summits in Havana, as well as attendance at the UN General Assembly and other summits in New York, where he met many people who believed in socialism, most of them young .
“Cuba cannot isolate itself or accept the isolation to which it wants to be subjected, we will not allow that,” he said, responding to questions arising from the country’s outstanding international participation as well as the misrepresentations, threats and obstacles it faces face to spread the message of Cuba and the poorest countries on the diplomatic stage.
He also reviewed the results and difficulties in the work of the CDR since the Eighth Party Congress ordered its strengthening and revitalization, listing the multiple tasks that occupy this organization, both those that it has fulfilled since its founding and those that that have been included in the current requirements.
He also mentioned the most discussed issues in the recent sessions of the Congress, including the major deficiencies in the work of its cadres and reserves and the weak functioning at the grassroots level.
“The CDR has made history on vital issues of our society,” acknowledged the First Secretary, who stressed that “revolutionary popular surveillance remains the essential activity of the organization” and therefore stressed that “it is crucial to revitalize its work. “
Debate about solutions and initiatives
During the closing session, the Hero of the Republic of Cuba and national coordinator of the CDR, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, recalled that there was a congress dedicated to the fight for freedom of the Five Heroes, which is why on this occasion they were there sitting three of his Brothers in prison for opposing United States terrorism against Cuba.
Photo: Alejandro Acosta Hechavarría
The opinions of the three commissions were read out, which analyzed the various themes of the organization’s work, with a focus on strengthening its internal functioning, ideological political work and with young people, as well as monitoring and prevention.
Photo: Alejandro Acosta Hechavarría
Delegates commented on the main solutions and initiatives adopted by their CDRs to improve the work of the organization, which includes traditional tasks such as the fight against crime, blood donation, the Looking at the Sea departments and the presence and defense of the Revolution in social networks on the Internet.
In an important contribution, the national coordinator of the CDR reflected on the need to address the drug problem, since it is no coincidence that the majority of these substances circulating in Cuba come from the United States. This is no coincidence, he warned.
He also introduced himself to the new national leadership of the CDR and the secretariat of its national executive, which will continue to be led by Gerardo Hernández Nordelo and made up of grassroots leaders and the various structures of the organization.
Delegations from Mexico, Uruguay, Venezuela, Ecuador, the United States, Brazil and Russia were invited to the closing session, and Jorge Arreaza, Minister of Municipalities and Social Movements of Venezuela, addressed the plenary session, emphasizing the connections between Cuba and Venezuelan revolutions. The Bolivarian Republic, to recall the lessons of Hugo Chávez on civic participation in communities.
Photo: Alejandro Acosta Hechavarría
Pedro Vázquez González of the Mexican Labor Party and MP said that Cuba is the hand, the lesson and the revolutionary example, and said that they feel like they are an active part of the struggle of the Cuban people.
Photo: Alejandro Acosta Hechavarría
The most important provinces of CDR work, Santiago de Cuba, Pinar del Río and , were supported; and it was an emotional moment to present the Neighborhood Prize to Commander José Ramón Machado Ventura, who is closely linked to the work of the CDR due to his responsibilities in the party.