Tobacco - that treasure that has so much prestige worldwide - distinguishes San Luis, the municipality through which the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, arrived last Tuesday morning to the westernmost province of Cuba.

This is the ninth of all the visits that the Head of State -accompanied by the member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Roberto Morales Ojeda- will make to a municipality in each province, in these first days of the year and the authorities of each territory.

The purpose is to reflect on the implementation of priorities set by the country's leadership to overcome today's main challenges; and look for ways that successful experiences, those that prove that it’s possible to overcome problems, expand to other spaces and groups.

The first item on the president's agenda for the municipality of San Luis was Base Business Unit number four - of the Tobacco Collection and Processing Company - known as the V-13-26 Chosen Center for Tobacco Processing. There the Cuban President inquired about the working conditions that the more than a hundred women who, starting this May, will have in the work for the benefit of the tobacco leaf.

Díaz-Canel was informed of how the facility - restored by the construction MSME “Govea” after a fire had ravaged the place - has a warehouse to house and process up to 350 tons of the precious agricultural product.

The next stop was the “Celia Sánchez Manduley” Children's House, inaugurated on January 11, 2024. The center - the first of its kind opened in San Luis - has a capacity for 50 children, and today welcomes around twenty. The benefit will be for the mothers of the Tobacco Collection and Processing Company, and also for those who are part of prioritized programs and live in nearby areas.

The dignitary was interested in the quality of the food and conditions in general, who, to find out details, spoke with authorities of the territory and with the educators, in addition to observing and asking questions among the children.

On the tour itinerary, it was then the turn of tobacco areas of the “Giraldo Valdés” Credit and Services Cooperative (CCS), where Díaz-Canel spoke with the growers hired at the productive entity. There he asked about the progress of the current campaign, as well as about the impact that the work days have on the vegueros and their families; and that was also the opportunity for the dignitary to talk with workers immersed in the task of stringing the leaves that are then placed on poles.

Before saying goodbye to the CCS group, the Head of State spoke about the importance of “continuing to promote more areas, more yield, more quality, to be able to export more tobacco - which is one of the main sources of income in the country, which "It’s one of the exportable items, which also distinguishes us."

The quality of Cuban tobacco is recognized worldwide, the dignitary said, “but there are still market centers that we are unable to reach.”

The José Martí Popular Urban Council - where houses have been created for families that have been affected by weather events that usually hit the area, and where progress must continue with urbanization - was the space visited moments before, at the municipal headquarters of the Communist Party of San Luis, a collective reflection would take place led by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, on how priorities outlined by the country's leadership in 2023, and those designed for this year, have been addressed in the territory.

REFLECTIONS IN SAN LUIS

There’s a desire that marks the ideological political work of these times, and about which the member of the Political Bureau, Roberto Morales Ojeda, spoke in the meeting with the leaders of the municipality: How to generalize the best experiences? How can we make exceptions, due to their success, a tendency towards the depths of society?

The Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party emphasized that, if it’s about party work far away, “we can no longer continue talking about implementation”: we must make it real, he said, the forces and work on the fulfillment of everything agreed in the recent, most important meeting of the organization.

Morales Ojeda referred to the importance of the political-ideological and economic-social strategies that the Communist Party has defined. And in the same line of thought he alluded to a cardinal premise, such as the correct political cadre - which, he stated, goes beyond discussing filling positions.

The member of the Political Bureau also spoke about the worth of strengthening the internal life of the Party, who warned that, if sustained progress is not achieved in that direction, combativity or exemplary participation of the entire militancy will not be achieved.

Growth has no numerical goal, reflected Morales Ojeda, who with this approached the purpose of adding everyone possible, without neglecting quality. To his interlocutors, he said: If they have respected young people, what could they lack to join the ranks of militancy? We mean to, he reasoned, interact and work with future militants.

You have to fall in love, you have to enchant, explain what it means to be part of the vanguard, the party leader emphasized; and he stressed that the above cannot be carried forward if there’s no revolutionary consciousness, if there’s no faith in those ideas that must be defended.

The training of cadres so that they have the art of interacting effectively with everyone - with militants and non-militant; strengthen and defend the values that distinguish Cuban society and people; know that political-ideological work begins by doing things well; Don’t forget that the continuity of the Revolution lives in youth. The Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party reflected on such aspects at the meeting.

On his behalf, President Díaz-Canel Bermúdez referred to the four priorities that motivate the current meetings that the country's leadership is promoting: he spoke of continuing to strengthen unity; to perfect ideological work; from political assurance to the implementation of the economic measures recently approved by the National Assembly of People's Power; and systematic discussion to solve and mitigate the effect of the negative trends that have proliferated in Cuban society.

Regarding unity, the president brought up concepts expressed by Army General, Raúl Castro Ruz, in his speech for the 65th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. He recalled the definition, given by the exceptional fighter, that unity is a strategic weapon; and in this regard he said that the first thing Cubans should ask themselves is how we are going to achieve and defend it.

This premise - the president reflected - is closely linked to the issue of participation: If we all contribute, that will undoubtedly consolidate unity, said the president, who referred to the value of advancing a type of thinking according to which, in whatever we propose, there is room for the population to participate, propose, and also control to avoid subsequent deviations and distortions.

"I’m fully convinced - he emphasized - that we can come out of the situation we are in, but we will only do so by working." Díaz-Canel stressed that we must generate the wealth that the country needs, despite the intensified blockade. It’s, he said, a call built on principles, "because every time we visit territories we see experiences that express that it’s possible, we see groups that are working above the blockade."

Regarding the economic measures, recently approved by the National Assembly of People's Power, the president expressed that “they are necessary and cannot be postponed”; that many of them call for savings and income redistribution; and that pursue economic growth with social development. They are not measures, he stated, that at some point go against the people but quite the opposite.

The Head of State denounced that, since they were announced, what the enemy has done is poison the virtual networks; he has dedicated himself to sowing the communication matrix that such decisions mean helplessness, distrust, and revulsion. They have said – Díaz-Canel denounced – that it’s a neoliberal package.

Our measures - the president stressed - are not a neoliberal package; because such a policy, if it’s neoliberal, is applied suddenly and it’s every man for himself.

He was emphatic that the effect these measures will have will depend greatly on the way in which Cubans are able to implement them.

Once the meeting was over and in front of the municipal headquarters of the Communist Party in the municipality of San Luis, the people waited for the President. As has happened in other municipalities in the country, the president told his speakers the essence of the measures recently announced by the country's leadership. He rejected enemy disinformation campaigns, and was explicit in his conviction that Cuba will be able to overcome its adversities.

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSí Translation Staff