All posts by JaimeM

Full text of speech by Communist Party of Cuba First Secretary and President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez

Díaz-Canel: We are ready and willing to do everything to defend what is most sacred, what unites us
Full text of speech by Communist Party of Cuba First Secretary and President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, during the closing session of the Central Committee’s second plenum, October 24

Author: Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez | internet@granma.cu
october 27, 2021 08:10:08



Photo: Estudio Revolución
Speech by Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee and President of the Republic, during the closing of the Central Committee’s second plenum, held at the Convention Center, October 24, 2021, Year 63 of the Revolution

(Transcript: Presidency of the Republic/Translation: GI)

Dear Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, leader of the Cuban Revolution;
Compañero and compañeras, members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba;
Guests:
For almost two days the second plenum of the PCC Central Committee has met, the first one following the Congress, since, you will remember, the first plenary session was held during the Congress, and that it was postponed due to the occurrence of a resurgence of the pandemic, which has required us to focus on aspects concerning the functioning of the Party in giving continuity to the Congress, and also address current issues of the Party’s work.
We have addressed the implementation of Eighth Congress agreements; the modification of statutes; norms for the functioning of permanent commissions; the strategy for implementation of the cadre policy, the program for transformation of political-ideological work; the process of evaluation of PCC committees; and the program of digital transformation of the organization.
In addition, the political assurance of important processes to be undertaken, and necessary debate on the improvement of People’s Power, were discussed.
The complexity of the present moment implies the need for us to meet more frequently to debate and make decisions on the most urgent and strategic problems the country currently faces, especially if we are able to discuss the issues in depth, objectively, comprehensively, and in a critical manner, in order to find solutions to the complex problems that concern us. This spirit was evident during this second plenum, as the Army General stated.
An analysis of the country’s situation and the global situation shows us that the world in COVID-19 is not only the unjust world that revolutionaries dream of changing. It is that world, but now under the effects of many simultaneous crises: economic, labor, productive, environmental, sanitary and also moral crises.
Cuba has not escaped the critical conjuncture facing the planet; undoubtedly, we are not the most affected, but we are the most punished. No underdeveloped nation is burdened as we are with the aforementioned crises along with the conditions imposed by the economic blockade, reinforced and intensified with 243 measures imposed by Trump and maintained by Biden, in addition to facing an intense, blatant and perverse communicational war. We are the only people in the world facing punishment this cruel, for this long.
It is up to us to give a worthy response to this undeserved, immoral sentence. Our originality is obliged to be as great as the wickedness of our adversary. We are challenged to be exceptional in our ability to resist and create. This is how it has been since the beginnings of the Cuban nation; this is how the Cuban Revolution has resisted 62 years undefeated.
The enemy has not ceased in its efforts to destroy us and cannot forgive the audacity of younger generations to continue the will and commitment to maintaining our independence, sovereignty and the construction of socialism.
The stated objective of the U.S. government is to overthrow the Cuban Revolution.
The enemy’s hope is that our great material difficulties will weaken the people and bring them to their knees; that are why they promote the idea that the country cannot resist.
This U.S. administration is trapped by the desire to win the Florida vote and these electoral purposes condition its policy toward Cuba, which has become dominated by the Cuban-American mafia in Miami. These facts are not coincidental; there is an intention, premeditation, and political interest.
The imperialist strategy is to create maximum discontent within our country. To foment instability through the erosion of the population’s living conditions, make it more and more difficult for us to survive, in order to lead us to the eruption of a violent conflict. They intend to fill us with hatred and take away our happiness.
The campaign is malicious; they disparage our achievements, disseminate grossly distorted images of our reality, attempt to strangle us economically, undermine solidarity with Cuba, making use of lies and slander. Representatives of the U.S. government constantly make human rights accusations against Cuba in their social network posts, keeping the issue in high profile.
Reflecting the current situation of bilateral relations with the United States, the U.S. embassy in Cuba has been playing an active role in efforts to subvert the internal order of our country. This behavior is not new; it has always been the norm in one way or another since the establishment of the interest sections in 1977.

Continue reading Full text of speech by Communist Party of Cuba First Secretary and President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez

The trade union movement will mobilize

Cuban workers denounce poorly concealed objectives of mercenary ruckus
The trade union movement will mobilize alongside the entire people against those who are determined to undermine Cuba’s sovereignty and the conquests we have collectively achieved, wielding its most powerful weapons: unity and patriotism

Author: National news staff | informacion@granma.cu
october 20, 2021 10:10:15



Photo: Prensa Latina
Given the latest escalation of subversive campaigns against the Revolution, the Federation of Cuban Workers (CTC) issued a statement outlining the national proletariat’s intransigent position rejecting the most recent maneuvers orchestrated by “internal political operators, led and encouraged from abroad,” who have announced “the intention to conduct a march which they present as peaceful and lawful, invoking the Constitution.”

In reference to Articles in the Magna Carta, the CTC recalled that no legal demonstration can disturb citizen tranquility, incite overthrowing the established order, infringe on the rights of others, affect collective security, general welfare or the public order, and must always be conducted with respect for the law.

On the contrary, the statement asserts, the poorly disguised objective of the mercenary ruckus is to provoke a change in Cuba’s political system and a return to capitalism; noting that this is made clear by “the decisive support, evident in the avalanche of messages on social networks, by figures abroad clamoring for a U.S. military intervention, notorious terrorists, counter-revolutionary figures in Florida and even the remains of the defeated mercenary Brigade 2506.”

In the face of such aggression, the statement reaffirms that “Cuban workers, united around the Federation of Cuban workers and its affiliated trade unions, are advancing in the construction of a new society and updating our economic model to build a better country, strongly condemn those who promote destabilization. We are convinced that no provocation will succeed in demoralizing or intimidating those of us struggling here for the present and the future of the nation.”

The statement reiterated that the Cuban trade union movement will mobilize alongside the entire people against those who are determined to take away our independence, our sovereignty and the conquests achieved with collective sacrifice. In this exercise of legitimate defense, “We will wield our most powerful weapons: unity and patriotism.”

Defending our culture is defending the homeland

Defending our culture is defending the homeland
Considered shield and sword of the nation, a sublime mixture of our deepest roots, Cuban culture constitutes a moral trench that upholds the emancipatory work of our homeland

Author: Mailenys Oliva Ferrales | informacion@granmai.cu
october 20, 2021 10:10:18



Photo: Artwork by Michel Moro
A redemptive anthem, a city for the first time free from the foreign yoke, and a rebellious history that began with the Mambi, remind us every October 20 why the Cuban people feel tremendously proud to celebrate National Culture Day today.
There are many reasons to commemorate and defend what we understand as our identity.
Considered shield and sword of the nation, a sublime mixture of our deepest roots, Cuban culture constitutes a moral trench that upholds the emancipatory work of our homeland.
Our enemies are intent on erasing this culture, which has been extended to education, sports and medicine as symbolic of a country, from our souls, with treacherous invitations in cyberspace, and condemn us to historical oblivion and detachment from the values forged by the Revolution.
The usual enemies, amidst the complex situation we face – with the tightening of the blockade and the impact of COVID-19 – direct their subversion laboratories against the very heart of the homeland: our culture.
Party First Secretary and President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez has made the people’s position clear, as we confront this unconventional war, in which the present and future of the nation are being defended.
Within the Revolution, he said, “There is room for everything and everyone, with the exception of those who seek to destroy our collective project…. In the Cuba of 2021, there is no room for annexationists or for the mercenaries of the moment.”

Neither internet nor kites

Neither internet nor kites
According to the United States government, any and all examples set by this proud island, persevering, despite all obstacles, must be erased
Author: Elson Concepción Pérez | internet@granma.cu
september 20, 2021 16:09:40


Photo: Endrys Correa Vaillant
According to the United States government, any and all examples set by this proud island, persevering, despite all obstacles, must be erased. It could be increasing access to the internet or the fact that Cuba dares to guarantee vaccines against COVID-19, products of the intelligence and the determination of technicians and scientists to reach the entire population this year.
They have bet on the losing team and continue to do so.
It turns out that the U.S. Senate have passed a document demanding that the government of President Joe Biden establish a fund that allows this service be provided freely and uncensored in Cuba.
The member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla wrote in his Twitter account, “I denounce the aggression of the U.S. Senate by the amendment on the internet that contributes to the lucrative business of the political-subversive machinery from Florida. The blockade is the main obstacle to a free and sovereign access of the Cuban people to the internet.”
EFE news agency reported on the amendment but it never mentioned the U.S. blockade on Cuba and the new 243 measures imposed by Trump’s administration that have remained untouched under Biden’s.
And here is my question: if we were to use the same ‘democratic’ elements than the U.S. government and, let’s say hypothetically, the Cuban parliament meddled in the internal affairs of the United States and passed this amendment, requesting the Cuban president to facilitate funds to subvert the order in the neighboring country, something Cuba would never do, what will be the charges, what legal or illegal action would they impose against us?
I think it would be more realistic, objective and serious to research and describe the reality of the access to the internet, what are the real economic and technological limitations imposed by the U.S. blockade and how those sanctions affect and restrain Cuba. In that way, they would be able to clear that pattern of lies imposed by the U.S. governments and that is used in anti-Cuban campaigns in internet.
The amendment, tainted from birth, was introduced by Republican Senators for the State of Florida Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, and it requests the creation of a reserve fund “to facilitate free, open, and uncensored access to the internet for the people of Cuba,” who, in his words, have been deprived of the free flow of information by the illegitimate Cuban regime.
In addition, our regime is an ‘illegitimate’ one, according to these people who seem to have kidnapped U.S. foreign policy as long as they have to do with our country.
For them, the only solution is to end Cuba, be it with internet or with kites flown from Miami. Nevertheless, they are betting on the losing team, there is no doubt about it.
Translated by ESTI