• Full text of the speech given by Osbel Lorenzo Rodríguez, first secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba in Las Tunas, at the Provincial Ceremony for the 72nd anniversary of the attacks on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks, held in the municipality of “Colombia.” July 23, 2025. “Year 67 of the Revolution.”

Comrades who accompany us!
Combative and revolutionary people of “Colombia”!
Compatriots!

A few hours before the 72nd anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks, we gather in this magnificent territory to celebrate National Rebellion Day.

On that July 26, 1953, under the leadership of our eternal and invincible Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, the Centennial Generation began to write a new page in our history: the path to the definitive independence and sovereignty of the Homeland.

We commemorate this date in a difficult and complex national and international scenario, recently evaluated at the 10th Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and at the recently concluded Ordinary Session of the National Assembly of People's Power in its 10th Legislature.

It has certainly been a very difficult year, marked by armed conflicts on the international scene, in which the “West,” led by US imperialism, is attempting to maintain its global hegemony in the face of the inevitable emergence of a new world order based on multipolarity, as confirmed at the recent BRICS meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This scenario of tensions and confrontations has broken the usual international logistics chains and is contributing to the rise in food and fuel prices.

In our particular case, we must add to this the intensification of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade by the United States, as well as its increased aggressiveness through smear campaigns and subversive actions, which are contributing to the current economic crisis and inflation we are facing today.

As the first secretary of the Party's Central Committee and president of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, said at the 10th Plenary Session of the Central Committee, and I quote: "What the people are expecting from us, their main representatives and public servants, are concrete and immediate actions that will help overcome the deep economic crisis that is doing so much damage to the spiritual fabric of our nation."

“Today more than ever, it is clear that these solutions depend entirely on us, in a highly challenging and threatening context. Let our eternal enemies not be deceived: we will defend the achievements we have made and preserve unity, as defined by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, 'like the apple of our eye'. And we will overcome these problems, as we have always done: by fighting to save the homeland, the Revolution, and socialism."

We celebrate the Moncada feat, aware that we face important challenges, not only to resist, but to do so with creativity, intelligence, and innovation in all spheres of the province's economic, political, and social life.

In food production, intensive work is being done to rescue and diversify agricultural production in the productive centers of all municipalities, and modest results are already visible, for example, in the “Jesús Menéndez” center, with more than 900 hectares planted.

Our Moncada today is rooted in the duty and obligation to transform the low levels of supply to the population, not only with greater diversity and sustainability of agricultural products, but also with the offerings of commerce, gastronomy, the food industry, and others that participate in the production of goods and services for the population and achieve better prices.

We know what food production means, and to carry out the transformations in this sector, we are calling on farmers and foresters, peasants and advanced producers to make better use of arable land in all forms of production and businesses, with the participation of the CDR, the FMC, the UJC, and the people in general.

We must prioritize urban, suburban, and family farming. The call is to continue advancing in the incorporation of more yards into local self-sufficiency, better and greater exploitation of existing technologies in municipalities, and maintaining intensive planting throughout the year. Similarly, livestock programs must be revived. We can achieve this.

We need to continue consolidating contracts with producers, organizing production destinations, and effectively monitoring compliance with milk and meat plans. It is vital to prevent and confront the corruption, crime, and illegalities that so badly damage the sector.

About sugarcane production, the province is committed to moving forward and implementing a strategy that will enable it to meet its sugar production plans in the coming seasons, as the last harvest failed to reach the target for various objective and subjective reasons.
The planting plan must be fulfilled, and the industry must be efficiently prepared. Similarly, more honey and honey products must be produced.

With regard to basic services, water distribution and quality, transportation, road improvements, solid waste collection, and housing construction are among the most prevalent concerns in the population's opinion polls, and we must continue to address them as a priority.

Along with this, we will strengthen the open, decisive, and effective fight against abusive and speculative prices in the retail market that currently affect working people.

In such a complex scenario, it is necessary to strengthen the work of inspection bodies and popular control and to increase the fight against all wrongdoing, manifestations of social indiscipline, and crime, so that order and legality prevail.

All this must be done in indissoluble unity between the Party and the people, which is to say, Revolution! We must resolutely confront chaos, corruption, speculation, fraud, illegalities, tax evasion, and profiteering to the detriment of the population. This battle is against illegalities wherever they come from, and not against forms of property or management.

We have reached this glorious date with a series of actions that have had a considerable impact on the population, such as the revitalization of El Cornito, the Amusement Park, the Theme Park, the restoration of the Buena Vista Tank hydraulic installation, which will improve the water supply for some 6,000 people, as part of the broad investment process in this sector; and the repair of kilometers 18 to 21 of the highway linking the municipality of Colombia with Amancio. Plus, work on other roads in the territory.

Work was also done on the new image of the El Diamante community, in the Sosa neighborhood of Las Tunas, on reviving the “Noches Tuneras” festival, in a new version, as well as the agricultural trade fairs that are so popular with the population and take place in the eight municipalities.

In addition, repairs were made to various services at the Ernesto Guevara and pediatric hospitals in the municipalities of Las Tunas and Puerto Padre. Of vital importance is the construction of the Nueva Línea photovoltaic park in Puerto Padre, which delivers 21.8 MW of generation to the National Electric Energy System, and three more are currently under construction.

We must also recognize the efforts of all the municipalities in the repair and maintenance programs, which will allow several projects to be inaugurated in the coming hours.

Compatriots!

The productive chain, the strengthening of government management based on science and innovation, and the search for timely and efficient solutions are other imperatives of the moment, to produce as much as we can and take advantage of the capacity and intelligence developed by the Revolution. It is also necessary to apply measures to reduce losses in companies and decrease unnecessary expenses in budgeted activities.

For the effective transformation of these objectives, an essential role falls to the cadres at all levels of management of the different structures that make up the political, governmental, business, and social systems. Designing, controlling, and demanding the search for sustainable alternatives and solutions is an urgent challenge for those of us who have the mission of guiding the destiny of our province.

It is necessary to sharply assess ideological problems and timely recognize the shortcomings in the exercise of political communication. To this end, it is necessary to promote debate and dialogue with young people. Youth, with its communist vanguard, is the guarantor of historical continuity, and we must give it our full attention in its training and commitment to the Revolution, through well-intentioned and motivating actions.

We are obliged to better inform, educate, and guide the people about these realities in a convincing, impartial, and creative manner. It is time to invigorate the anti-imperialist consciousness, culture, and spirit that is at the heart of our struggle, with better political, institutional, and social communication, especially on digital networks, which are currently the main ideological battlefield.

Our country has accumulated over 157 years of struggle for independence, a history capable of stirring even the coldest heart. From this knowledge spring the patriotic and humanistic values that foster revolutionary attitudes. Anyone who doubts this should listen to or read the testimony of a Moncada fighter or a Granma expeditionary.

The Centennial Generation, as Fidel emphasized in the Moncada trial, carried the doctrines of the Master in their hearts. Martí is the synthesis of Cuba's powerful history in one exemplary man.

Comrades!

I want to acknowledge the commendable work of health personnel, managers, doctors, nurses, and paramedics in maintaining this vital service to the population in these complex situations.

The results of the education sector in the teaching levels, as well as those of our universities, are positive, reflected in the quality of the teaching-educational process, the altruism and dedication of their faculty, the commitment of the rest of the workers, and the exemplary attitude of the students.

In the cultural sphere, the successful development of the Jornada Cucalambeana stands out, as well as the various events, community projects, the Provincial Book Fair, and other activities, demonstrating the active participation of writers, artists, young people from the AHS, art instructors, and cultural promoters. Recognition goes to the press of Las Tunas and historians for disseminating and sharing the rich national and local history.

In the sports sector, special recognition and thanks go to our valiant provincial baseball team, the Leñadores de Las Tunas, current national champions and runners-up in the Third Elite League of Cuban Baseball, as well as to their manager Abeisy Pantoja, who has been appointed to lead the national youth team that will represent the country in the World Championship to be held in Japan. We congratulate all the athletes from Las Tunas who participated in the various national and international competitions, and the young sportspeople participating in the School Games.

I congratulate the people of "Colombia," the political and government authorities, the mass organizations, the armed forces, and those who were recognized this morning for the progress achieved, for the efforts made, and for having been a worthy host of this patriotic event. Recognition goes to the municipalities of Manatí and Las Tunas, which were highlighted on such a glorious date.

Congratulations to the invincible people of Las Tunas, the main protagonists of our achievements, to our heroic veterans, and to our committed youth. Everyone's dedication to their various tasks and their unconditional support demonstrate every day that it is possible to work for victory and a better homeland.

Brothers and sisters!
Dear people of Las Tunas!

To meet the challenges and commitments of production and development, I call on all revolutionaries in Las Tunas, under the guidance of the Communist Party of Cuba, to continue strengthening the political-productive movement Tarea de Grandes, which will allow us to achieve, through a broad and solid mass movement, the national Central Act for July 26 in 2026, the centenary of the birth of our invincible Commander in Chief.

To this end, it is essential to design actions that not only honor his historical legacy but also reinforce socialist values, connect with new generations, and project his thinking in the face of current challenges. It is a matter of bringing him into the present, of imbuing ourselves with his revolutionary doctrine to face the colossal challenges of these times.

From here, we reaffirm that we will work creatively and tirelessly so that in our province, the Government Program to correct distortions and boost the economy achieves the expected results, as proposed at the 10th Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. We will continue with the development of the electrical energy program based on the use of renewable energy sources.

Compatriots!

We must move forward with joy and optimism; without optimism, one cannot be a revolutionary, because the difficulties that a revolution must overcome are very serious.

With this conviction, we will commemorate National Rebellion Day on the anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks.

With the certainty that the people of Las Tunas are hardworking people who will never fail the Revolution, Fidel said 47 years ago at the inauguration of the bulk sugar terminal in Puerto Carúpano: "Las Tunas never lagged, neither in the War of 1868, nor in that of 1895, nor in the last struggle for liberation. Las Tunas never lagged in patriotism and work ethic."

And today we reaffirm that we will continue to fight intensely for our Revolution and will never lag behind. People like this deserve to always be at the forefront. We reaffirm that we will fight for a 26 in 2026, with more production, higher quality services, and making Revolution every day, with an indissoluble unity between the people and their leaders.

Nothing and no one can defeat or stop us, because these people of Las Tunas are extraordinary. Let us work hard, so that in the year of the Commander-in-Chief's Centennial, we can make his prophecy come true when he asked to turn Las Tunas into a kind of golden cup.

Let us make this statement possible, with the realization of the idea that our Army General instilled in us when he said: “Yes, we could, yes, we can, and yes, we always will.” Let us always remember that the struggle has not ceased.

Long live the heroes and martyrs of July 26!
Long live Fidel and Raúl!
Long live Díaz-Canel!
Long live the people of Las Tunas, who will never betray the Revolution!
Homeland or Death! We will win!