A patriotic, renovated El Cobre greets Díaz-Canel
The Cuban President appreciated the social transformations evident in the town and continued his tour of Santiago de Cuba with stops at sites of economic importance
Author: Eduardo Palomares Calderón | palomares@granma.cu
june 22, 2018 10:06:36

Photo: Estudio Revolución
SANTIAGO DE CUBA.–Residents enthusiastically welcomed the President yesterday, during his visit to the internationally known community of El Cobre, with more than 18,400 inhabitants, 22 kilometers from the provincial capital.
Díaz-Canel’s first stop – accompanied by members of the Central Committee Lázaro Expósito Canto and Beatriz ¬Johnson Urrutia, Party first secretary in the province and president of the Provincial Assembly of People’s Power, respectively – was the new hotel under construction here.
Tourism Ministry authorities and the construction company Emprestur, explained that the facility, to be completed next July, is projected as a four-star hotel, with 74 rooms.
The group, joined by Culture Minister Abel Prieto toured a new movie theater and internet navigation wifi site; heard about renovation efforts in the town from local authorities; and enjoyed brief performances by the professional and children’s steel bands at their recently established headquarters on the town’s central boulevard. At each site, the President inquired about the quality of work done.

Photo: Estudio Revolución
Under the noonday sun, crowds gathered on sidewalks to send greetings to Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, and express respect and affection for the new President. Upon his departure, Diaz-Canel stopped again at a park to talk with residents.
Later in the day, Díaz-Canel visited two soy oil processing facilities, inaugurated by Commandante en Jefe Fidel Castro, October 24, 2001, and now undergoing a 20 million pesos renovation, to increase capacity and improve quality.
To close the day, the President met with students at the University of Oriente and the provincial medical school, joined by Minister of Higher Education José Ramón Saborido Loidi. Some 20 students took the floor to share opinions on their academic programs, the university’s links with the population, and interaction with provincial authorities.
Díaz-Canel concluded noting, “This is a province of constant renewal. Here you always see new things, as Army General Raúl Castro saw. And what is most significant is the united participation of everyone in Santiago in these projects, of which you are so proud.”