Amid a challenging economic climate, but with a clear commitment to progress and dialogue, Las Tunas commemorated the 67th anniversary of the Triumph of the Revolution this Wednesday. The main event, held in the Armando Hart Cultural Plaza in the provincial capital, was presided over by the First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) in the province, Osbel Lorenzo Rodríguez, and the Governor, Yelenys Tornet Menéndez.

Las Tunas, Cuba.– “We are not standing still,” Lorenzo Rodríguez stated, summarizing the act. The political leader did not shy away from mentioning the severe conditions under which the province has been operating, mainly caused, he recalled, by the U.S. blockade.

He noted that food production, public sanitation, inflation, support for vulnerable families, and water supply are the main concerns of citizens and are also on the authorities' radar. Consequently, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the progress made in these areas, although he acknowledged some advances.

He was emphatic in proposing a change of approach: “Let’s stop talking about the people and start talking with the people.” He stressed the need to defend the Revolution with mind, heart, and hands, in the face of economic difficulties and the ideological influence of its enemies.

The First Secretary referred to the Government Program to Correct Distortions and Revitalize the Economy. “These are not simple or popular decisions, but a responsible Party does not opt for the easy way out, but rather for the definitive solution to the problem.” He said that the task is to combine economic rigor with social justice, which, he asserted, only the socialist Revolution can guarantee.

Among the priorities, he also included the recovery of the energy supply and the sugar harvest. He also warned about the danger that the Trump Administration’s belligerent escalation against Venezuela poses to regional stability.

He emphasized the vital importance of mobilizing the entire revolutionary population to confront negative attitudes through a firm fight against crime, corruption, illegal activities, and drugs. He recognized the role of the glorious Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) and the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) as decisive actors in the country's life.

During the ceremony, awards were presented to the municipalities of “Colombia,” “Amancio,” and “Jesús Menéndez,” as well as to organizations, companies, and institutions in the  Las Tunas municipality for their performance in education, food production, defense, and community activities. Similar recognition was given to provincial entities for their achievements during the year that is drawing to a close, and especially to those who excelled in fulfilling their assigned missions in socially impactful tasks, as part of the Tarea de Grandes political movement (Task of Great Ones), and for their active participation in the recovery efforts following the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa.

The Executive Bureau of the PCC Provincial Committee decided to award the municipality of Las Tunas the honor of hosting the main activities for this anniversary, citing its demonstrated consolidation in economic indicators, progress in its production hub, focus on new management models, and the completion of social works projects.

Roberto Carlos López Saborit, leader of the political organization in the provincial capital, affirmed that his team's priorities are to advance food production and improve sanitation in the most populated area. "Each generation has the mission of defending the most cherished ideals of socialism," he stated.

As a tangible culmination of the celebration, a group of social projects in the city of Las Tunas now looks much improved. In the Aguilera neighborhood, a house was delivered to a vulnerable family, built in a former video room with an investment exceeding 400,000 pesos. The surrounding urban environment also improved.

The renovation of the emergency services at the Gustavo Aldereguía Polyclinic, in addition to construction and painting, included replacing air conditioning units and bathroom fixtures.

The Futuros Constructores childcare center and the Leningrado Market underwent a complete overhaul, which included repairs to streets, water and sewage systems, and the building facades. The “Futuros Constructores” increased its capacity by 32 children through the reorganization of its facilities. Similarly, the facade of the Rafael Martínez semi-boarding school and its perimeter fence, damaged by Hurricane Melissa, were repaired.

One of the most significant works was the completion of the restoration of the first module of the El Rincón water treatment plant, the main source of supply in the provincial capital. This project increases the volume of water delivered to the city by 33 percent and improves its quality.