Diaz-Canel: One Year of Continuity building a stronger Cuba

Diaz-Canel: One Year of Continuity building a stronger Cuba
Fecha de publicación: 
23 April 2019
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After one year in office —Miguel Diaz-Canel took office on April 19, 2018 as President of the Council of State and Ministers— all you see is continuity and reward.

“What we cannot forget for even a second, as of this moment, is the commitment that we acquire to the people and to the future.” He stated it in his first speech as Head of State in the Constituent Session of the 9th Legislature of the National Assembly of People’s Power and, certainly, he has not forgotten those words for even a second.

As he has not forgotten, not even an inch, the conviction he proclaimed that day, when Cubans celebrated another anniversary of the first defeat of the Empire in Latin America: “I assume the responsibility for which I have been elected with the conviction that all Cuban revolutionaries, from the position we occupy, based on the work we do, from any post or trench of the socialist homeland, will be faithful to the exemplary legacy of the Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, historic leader of our Revolution, and also to the example, the courage and the teachings of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, current leader of the revolutionary process.”

And it is his commitment with the people from whom he emerged, with the historic leaders of the Revolution, and the ongoing history that started with the machetes used by Mambi fighters. The resolute conviction of granting “no space for a transition that ignores or destroys so many years of struggle,” and these are the three pillars he has leaned on in his first year, which he has been consistent to so far.

Suffice to listen to people trying to call him whenever he is out there visiting neighborhoods, social works, the countryside…Then you understand, after witnessing several Cuban citizens gathering around their President, stretching their arms to touch him or shake his hands, that there is no doubt his good work is having outstanding reward.

And if that natural, daily support were not enough, there you have the results of the voting held last February 24, when Cubans vastly backed the new Constitution of the Republic, which is also to voting for Cuba and its Socialism.

Since last October 10 when he debuted on social networks, Diaz-Canel proves them right in each of the more than 580 of his tweets. His behavior, not now, but always, ratifies #SomosCuba and #SomosContinuidad.

It has not been easy at all for him this first year: plane crash, hurricane, tornado, and food shortage; a tangible worsening of U.S. hostile policy against the nation with a strength few can remember.

But Diaz-Canel himself pointed it out in his first speech:In Cuba, the people have decided, that there is only room for the generations born and educated under the Revolution and the founding generation to continue to work, without bowing to pressure, without fear or retreat, defending our truth and motives, without renouncing our sovereignty and independence, development programs or dreams.”

Consequently, against all odds, the President has focused on the most urgent subjects affecting the citizens in every meeting held with the Council of Ministers as broadcasted by state media, and he has paid governmental working visits through the whole nation.

He started such working style in May 2018 along with other members of the government to see firsthand the problems. The last day of February 2019, he completed the 15-province tour.

He was side by side with those who lost everything in the tornado that hit the city in the final days of January, and he was also together with Raul (Castro) celebrating the “coming of age” of young ladies in the Special Education School Solidaridad con Panama; and you could see him in the United Nations, but also being briefed by members of cooperatives at the furrows.

The Head of States has also championed the fight against corruption and bureaucracy in addition to his usual monitoring of vital programs for the development of the nation and the living standard for Cubans.

He has insisted on the necessity to eradicate the obstacles that hinder or delay both economical processes and citizens’ paperwork.

The constant attention to details, the respect for others, the obligation to meet and provide solutions to citizens’ critics, complaints, and claims as well as the development of the computerization of the country have been the main targets of his term.

This is the term the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, Army General Raul Castro Ruz, at the central act to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution, in Santiago de Cuba stated: “Without wishing to make a hasty assessment, I can say that the process of transferring the main responsibilities to new generations is going well. I’d go further – it’s going very well, without setbacks or surprises, and we are confident that thus we will continue.”

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Diaz/CubaSi Translation Staff

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