Full text of the speech given by Osbel Lorenzo Rodríguez, First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) in Las Tunas, at the Provincial Ceremony for the 67th anniversary of the Triumph of the Revolution, held on December 24 in the municipality of Las Tunas.
COMRADES OF THE PRESIDENCY,
COMBATANTS OF THE REVOLUTION,
DEAR PEOPLE OF LAS TUNAS,
COMPATRIOTS:
Each anniversary of the Triumph of the Revolution is a benchmark of the unity and integrity of the principles and values we defend in the construction of our socialism, which has not been without internal difficulties, blockades, threats, and external aggressions.
But at the same time, it calls us to celebrate with joy and enthusiasm the triumph of the first socialist revolution in Latin America. We reach this 67th anniversary with the infinite faith in victory that Commander-in-Chief Fidel always instilled in us, and are ready to make 2026 a year of new victories, on the centenary of his birth.
Those of us who live in Cuba today know that we suffer daily anxieties and tremendous tensions. Many things concern and occupy us.
The world is going through turbulent times, and groups promoting hatred, racism, xenophobia, and rejection of others are growing. Genocide is proliferating, such as that carried out by the Israeli government in the Gaza Strip and against the Palestinian people in general, before the eyes of the international community.
The Southern Command is activated, and the Caribbean is heating up due to the deployment of US forces under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, threatening peace in our region. At the same time, they seek to attack our sister Bolivarian nation. It is the same recipe that the Yankee warmongering machine applies against those who do not submit to its designs. We Cubans experienced something similar in the October Crisis of 1962. War is part of imperial nature.
In this context, far-right movements are resurging in Europe, the United States, and even in our America, while the global economic crisis is worsening.
As is well known, although they try to hide or omit it, the vast majority of the shortages we suffer in Cuba today are the result of a horribly cruel policy, through which the empire seeks to humiliate us, break our convictions, and erase us from the contemporary political scene. To achieve these goals, they need us to be isolated, blockaded, unable to think, and incapable of producing what is necessary for our subsistence and development.
Despite everything, the province has not stopped. We are not standing still! An example of this is this municipality, which has been working steadily to develop the Almendares production hub, keeping the infant mortality rate below the provincial average and winning 29 medals in national knowledge competitions, while consolidating the agricultural trade fairs and the “Noches Tuneras” (Las Tunas Nights).
For the second consecutive year, the municipality of Las Tunas has achieved a surplus and is focusing its attention and control on new forms of management linked mainly to the provision of services. It shows progress in defense tasks and in the main political processes and efficiency indicators in organizations, agencies, and institutions related to cadre policy and the implementation of actions to ensure the economic-productive movement Tarea de Grandes, with positive impacts on the people. These results were achieved through stability, unity, and the connection with the base of the main cadres, which has a positive impact on the political and moral state of this territory.
This year, the municipality hosted the National Telecenters Festival, the 26th History Congress, and the Central Ceremony for the 40th anniversary of Physical Culture and Sports Day.
This is an example that progress can be made even in the midst of difficulties! The historical enemy of our Cuba, of revolutionary and socialist Cuba, has not abandoned its dream of ending the Revolution, using unconventional warfare methods to induce social unrest that causes suffering to Cuban families, generates confusion, and discredits the Revolution.
Faced with this colossal challenge, our most important and urgent tasks are on the ground, in neighborhoods, people's councils, and municipalities, with actions to repair homes, schools, medical clinics, warehouses, water, electrical, and telecommunications infrastructure, and in vulnerable neighborhoods with community support and popular control.
As part of the water program, new pumping systems powered by photovoltaic panels have been installed, and batteries for emergency generators and pumping equipment have been delivered to repair broken pipes during this period. Work continues to improve the water supply to the population, which is one of the main concerns in the territory, as are food production, high prices, solid waste collection, the public transport situation, and the quality of services, among others.
To reverse the complex electricity situation we face today, and as part of the country's strategy to move towards energy generation from renewable sources, the province is ensuring the construction of two new solar parks of 21.8 megawatts (MW) each, in different phases of execution. The Nueva Línea de Puerto Padre (21.8 MW) and Blanca Rosa (5 MW) in Majibacoa have already been synchronized. This allows the province to generate 37.8 MW.
In food production, it is worth noting the growth in planting levels achieved, with the spring and cold-season campaigns being completed. However, these results do not meet the demands of the population.
It will be necessary to continue seeking alternatives to increase the areas planted, strengthen and consolidate the productive centers and their yields in the eight municipalities, reduce vacant land, and consolidate the construction of self-consumption systems, taking into account the experiences and examples that exist in various territories and are not yet widespread.
Urban, suburban, and family farming must continue to advance in incorporating more backyards into local self-sufficiency, in accordance with the purposes, objectives, and goals contained in the Law on Food Sovereignty, Food Security, and Nutrition.
In general, strong agriculture is needed, with local linkages, support for producers, and fewer obstacles to their management to change the landscape.
Hence, precise guidelines have been issued to eliminate obstacles, improve collection and marketing mechanisms, stimulate productive efforts, and better support those who work the land.
Municipal governments are responsible for ensuring that budgets are used for these purposes, as well as for monitoring production and its destinations, as part of the functioning of the contracting and price-setting committees. It is at the municipal level that this problem must be solved, and hard work and unity are needed to find a solution.
As for sugarcane production, the province is committed to fulfilling the sugar manufacturing plan for the current season and doing so with the efficiency programmed for the harvest period.
The production of honey, molasses, animal feed, and expected derivatives such as alcohol, wax, bagasse board, and others requires adequate organization, as well as the best use of technical expertise and workers directly involved in the production processes.
The sustainability and development of this sector in the province require compliance with the planting program in each of the campaigns, improving the composition of strains, ensuring cultivation, and increasing agricultural yields.
Never forget the idea of the Bronze Titan: “The secret of our ultimate success lies in our own efforts.” Everything we can achieve in 2026 in industrial production and food production, in particular, will depend on the dedication and sacrifice of this noble and heroic people of Las Tunas.
It is up to the sector's managers to better plan, organize, execute, and control actions so that the proposed objectives are met in the next harvest.
Although indeed, the Housing Program has not fulfilled its commitments for this stage, intensive work has been done to assist the most vulnerable communities, mothers with three or more children, and to follow up on the care provided to basic cells. It is necessary to continue seeking solutions to increase the production of construction materials in alternative ways.
In terms of economic results, total net sales, retail trade, exports, and labor efficiency and wage indicators did not perform well, but they place the territory in a better position to face 2026 and increase the production of goods and services for the people.
There is a significant group of companies that are recording losses, so it is necessary to work hard to find solutions that favor business development and its linkage with new economic actors, in accordance with established guidelines.
It is therefore necessary to strengthen, streamline, and consolidate the progress of the socialist state-owned enterprise as the main actor in the national economy. Defining concrete actions in each productive or service entity is essential to bring the Government Program to success in correcting distortions and reviving the economy, whose popular discussion takes on special significance at this time.
This is not a slogan; it is a concrete battle for stability in daily life, so that wages are sufficient, so that there is food on the table, so that blackouts end, so that transportation is revived, so that schools, hospitals, and basic services function with the quality we deserve.
To this end, it is necessary to move toward macroeconomic stability, which means putting the accounts in order, tackling inflation, adjusting the budget to protect those who need it most, and resolving the complex issue of the exchange rate.
These are not easy or popular decisions, but a responsible party does not opt for the easy way out, but rather for a definitive solution to the problem. The task is to combine economic rigor with social justice, and that combination can only be guaranteed by the socialist revolution.
Special recognition at this stage goes to the combatants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces who made up the Major General Vicente García contingent and to the electrical workers for their valuable contribution to the recovery of the provinces affected by Hurricane Melissa. They made a sustained effort to activate the disconnections that affected the National Electric Energy System in the shortest possible time. To all of them, our most sincere congratulations on behalf of the Party, the Government, and the entire people.
Never have solidarity and humanism reached such high values as those expressed in receiving and treating more than two thousand evacuees from the Granma municipality of Río Cauto on this land, as a result of the intense flooding of the Cauto River. What we experienced during those days, in each of the evacuation centers, touched our souls and demonstrated the values created by our Revolution. With people like this, there is no task too difficult or victory that cannot be achieved!
We recognize the health collectives for the commendable work of their managers, doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff in confronting and controlling arboviruses and for the results of the Maternal and Child Care Program.
In general education, teaching staff coverage is at 95.2 percent; the province guarantees the operation of 668 educational institutions in all categories of education. The program of daycare centers, which benefits more than 351 working mothers, is being consolidated.
Culture in the province is also making progress with the active participation of intellectuals and creators. The Provincial Book Fair, the 57th edition of the Jornada Cucalambeana, and Culture Week, among many other activities, were successfully held.
Recognition goes to the mass media for their work, especially to the journalists who have won national awards, and to the TunasVisión television station for winning first place at the National Festival.
In sports, the Cuban baseball champions won the title for the second consecutive year. Our Leñadores confirmed their status in the 64th Series as the most stable team in the last eight years. Continue to be not only the pride that identifies us; continue to be our battle flag and our example in the battles for new victories.
The universities show consolidation in the courses they offer with excellent teaching staff, the training of doctors and masters in science, as well as in the quality of the comprehensive training of new professionals.
The presence of our scientists and experts in the application of science and innovation in different sectors of the province's economic and social life stands out, with an emphasis on food production, sugar cane recovery, industry, and local development, with the participation of municipal university centers.
COMPATRIOTS:
Efficient government management is crucial to the implementation of development strategies. There is a demand to strengthen ties with the community, the role of the delegate, community groups, and attention to the population through revolutionary, frank, and participatory dialogue. Let us stop talking about the people and start talking to the people. Let us defend them with our minds, hearts, and hands.
The persistence of economic difficulties and the harmful ideological influence of our enemies, who distort this reality, have given rise to negative phenomena and manifestations that undermine the proper functioning of society. In this new stage of work, it is vital to mobilize the entire revolutionary people to resolutely confront these attitudes through the Government Program to Correct Distortions and Revitalize the Economy.
From this perspective, it is a task of the utmost importance to critically observe and firmly combat anything that, for any reason, could compromise the construction of socialism. The results of recent exercises in Prevention and Confrontation of Crime, Corruption, Illegalities, and Social Indiscipline demonstrate that this is a necessary and integrative movement. We must review everything that needs to be systematized to continue moving forward.
Our deep and grateful recognition goes to the glorious Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, which are not only the armed forces of the homeland, but also decisive actors in the economic, political, and social destiny of the country.
In these circumstances, as in previous ones, the Party's work will be aimed at addressing everything, reviewing and perfecting its methods and styles of work, to achieve the goals set for 2026.
In this battle, the role of the cadres of the Revolution is vital. Their preparation, sensitivity, responsibility, honesty, and mastery of the situation in order to confront and understand the causes of problems are fundamental to advancing the achievement of the proposed objectives at a faster pace.
The fight is hard, long, and uneven. The enemy's rule is that there are no rules. International laws and commitments to peace and development mean nothing to the empire and its acolytes.
In case there were any doubts, the military deployment in the area, the murders committed, and the hijacking of ships show once again how the empire has once again disrespected the international community—or what remains of it—with its new National Security Strategy, a crude summation of the Monroe Doctrine, with total cynicism.
The Cuban Communist Party will continue to focus on the priorities that have been defined, which are:
- Strengthening unity.
- Improving ideological work.
- Providing political support for the Government Program.
- Confronting negative trends in society.
Maintaining order and tranquility among our people is and will continue to be our primary task. The Revolution has all the moral strength it needs to face and win this battle. There will be no impunity for anyone!
We will not lower our guard. We will intensify the ideological and cultural battle, defend our achievements, and work tirelessly to create a sovereign and prosperous country that these people deserve.
COMRADES,
COMPATRIOTS:
The revolutionary thing will always be to act and to do so by mobilizing all forces and talent with clarity in the objectives proposed based on the interests and demands of the province and the nation, with the effective use of the scarce resources available.
We are closing another complex year full of constant challenges. The moment calls on us to be better every day and to ask ourselves, as revolutionaries, what more we can do in this difficult and complex scenario.
The “Year of the Centenary of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz” will be the year to study his thinking more deeply, to multiply his example of tireless work, fidelity to principles, and absolute confidence in the people and in the victory of ideas.
People from Las Tunas! May every task we undertake in 2026, from the most complex economic transformations to the simplest gesture of solidarity, be imbued with Fidel's spirit of struggle, his deep love for the people, and his unwavering commitment to social justice.
This will be the most consistent way to honor Fidel, whose centenary calls on us to be better, to defend what we have achieved, and to build the future with optimism.
I call on you to think and act differently, but always in keeping with our people and their historic leaders. To work with the greatest efficiency and intensity, with the optimism and faith of our heroes and martyrs, with the energy and creativity of young people, the guarantors of the future of the homeland; from a more enriching conception, for political and ideological work in pursuit of better care and preparation for our younger generations.
Let us celebrate with legitimate pride, social discipline, and as a family the 67th anniversary of the triumph of our undefeated Revolution and reaffirm our fidelity to the principles and values we defend, based on the most solid and monolithic revolutionary unity.
I congratulate, in particular, the people of the municipality of Las Tunas, the Party, the institutions, and the political and mass organizations for such a combative and patriotic act. I call on you to work even harder in 2026.
On behalf of the Party and the Government, I extend my congratulations to those who were recognized at this event for the results of their work in 2025.
I congratulate, in general, the invincible people of Las Tunas and all those who struggle, those who never give up in the face of difficulties; those who believe in human capabilities to create, sow, and cultivate values and ideas; those who are committed to humanity.
Convinced, as our eternal Commander-in-Chief Fidel emphasized, that “The road will always be difficult and will require the intelligent effort of all,” we will fight together, and we will win!
In 2026, we have extra motivation to fight to host the National Ceremony on July 26. Let's fight and work together, demonstrating every day that “Yes, we can.”
VICTORY FOR LAS TUNAS!
LONG LIVE THE REVOLUTION!
LONG LIVE FIDEL AND RAÚL!
UNTIL VICTORY, ALWAYS!
HOMELAND OR DEATH! WE WILL WIN!
