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JULY 26, 2008
Men and Women from
Santiago:
Compatriots:
Fifty five years is a short period of time in the life of a
nation but enough to confirm that July 26 marked the
beginning of a new era in Cuban history.
In his fundamental speech at the official ceremony on the 20th
anniversary of the Moncada also held here in Santiago de
Cuba, Fidel recalled the inflammatory poem written by the
outstanding Communist leader and noble intellectual Ruben
Martínez Villena:
"A charge is needed
to kill the scoundrels,
To finish the work
of revolutions,
To avenge the
outraged dead,
To remove the
tenacious scab of colonization,
So the humiliating
fate, the efforts and hunger,
The wounds and death
shall not be in vain;
So the Republic
stays by itself
To fulfill Martí’s
dream of marble,
So our
children do not beg on their knees
The Nation
our fathers won for us on their feet."
And he
concluded by saying:
"Ruben:
the July 26 was the charge you asked for."
Since that memorable ceremony in 1973, we Cubans have
confronted many difficulties and hard times. Only our
people’s deep convictions and determination to hold its
ground and to win have made it possible to celebrate this
new anniversary with pride and optimism.
 The
Granma newspaper had the fine initiative to start a few days
ago reproducing that speech, dividing it into fifteen parts.
It is thus unnecessary for us to recount the background, the
causes, conditions and consequences of the attack on the
Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks since the
Chief of the Revolution explained them that day in an
unrepeatable synthesis.
That speech offers not only a sound analysis of the past and
of those days specifically, but also an accurate and precise
appraisal of the harsh realities the future had in store and
the way to tackle them.
In a day like this, in 1973, Fidel asserted that the only
possibility the Latin American peoples had to save
themselves was to join forces and to get rid of the
imperialist domination, since only that would enable them to
take their place in the large human communities.
And referring to our region, he added:
"Only that would make us strong enough to face up to the
enormous economic, social, human and food problems with a
population that will grow an additional 600 million in the
next 25 years. Only that would make possible our
participation in the scientific and technical revolution
that will shape up life in the future. Only that will make
us free."
Later on, he admonished:
"…luxury and wastage in the developed capitalist societies
are depleting the non-renewable natural resources such as
oil whose price is threatening to increase extraordinarily."
End of quote.
 If
seems to have been said just today but he said it 35 years
ago. That’s why Abdelazis Bouteflica, President of the
sister nation of Algeria and a dear friend of Cuba, said on
one occasion:
"We have had the immense privilege of being friends with
comrade Fidel, who has never failed us. Fidel has the
strange quality of traveling into the future, returning and
then explaining it all."
The 55 years that have passed since July 26, 1953 have more
than justified the choice of Oriente, particularly Santiago
de Cuba and Bayamo, to restart the then incomplete Cuban
Revolution. In this indomitable land of mambises and
rebels, like in all of Cuba, the glorious patriotic and
revolutionary traditions of our people are kept alive.
From that very first year of 1959, the nation has been
making great efforts to develop the eastern provinces where
35% of the country’s population lives today, however,
compared with the rest of the nation they are still in a
disadvantage. The Special Period and the natural disasters
have hit this area with special force. These have also
prevented us from advancing at a greater speed.
We are aware of the great amount of problems waiting to be
solved, most of which weigh heavily and directly on the
population. Nevertheless, it should be recognized that
lately the limited resources the nation has been able to
additionally deliver to the eastern region have been quickly
put to good use.
An example of this is the renovation of numerous facilities
that improve the people’s quality of life while contributing
to education and leisure.
A wok of special significance for the people in Santiago,
one which started last year, is advancing at a good pace:
the reconstruction and expansion of the aqueduct. This old
and serious problem should be definitely solved by 2010,
when the entire city will have a daily supply of water
guaranteed.
Then, by 2011 the renovation of the El Cobre and El Cristo
aqueducts shall be completed --there, too, they will have a
daily supply of water-- and the construction of the 15.6
miles of water pipeline from the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes
reservoir up to the Gilbert’s. This will guarantee an
additional source of this liquid in case of severe draughts.
So far, 231.2 miles of major water networks and 370.6 miles
of secondary water networks have been completed. This is
approximately one-third of what should be installed; however,
it has already benefited over 26 thousand housing where some
111 thousand Santiagueros live.
Additionally, 15.3 miles of the major water pipeline has
been completed, that is, 17% of the total. Likewise, the
modernization of the Quintero Uno water purification plant
will be soon completed. This will raise the quality of the
water supply.
The equipment required for this work is available. Now, to
maximize its use a double shift shall be arranged wherever
it is advisable trying to reduce to the minimum the
inconveniences for the population since a large part of this
work is to be done inside the city. The idea is to open up
the trench and immediately lay down the pipes, and to
reestablish the way as soon as the work has been tested.
We shall be checking the timetable for the execution of this
work on a monthly basis with those responsible who signed
the contract on behalf of the entities involved. That is,
Fidel Figueroa, minister of Construction; Rene Mesa,
director of the National Institute of Water Resources; and
Rolando Yero, president of People’s Power in this province.
This kind of work is not only being done here but also with
the 27 brigades created for this purpose in the aqueducts of
Holguín, Baracoa and Tunas, and other eastern provinces; in
the capital of the country; in Camaguey and other places in
the center and west of the island. This major work also
includes tens of small towns and small communities.
A piece of advise: the more water that is distributed, the
greater the need to save it. Water is a very valuable
resource which is indispensable for everything; therefore,
it should be used rationally.
Also, it is necessary to work hard and urgently on the
recovery of roadworks as a good part of them was destroyed
at the end of last year by tropical storm Noel. There is
much to be done, but despite the limited resources about
2218.7 miles of dirt roads and paved roads were rebuilt in
the eastern and Camaguey provinces, the same as the 75 miles
of railways affected, including most of the bridges and
other major pieces of work associated with them.
Likewise work is being done on several water transfer
systems throughout the country which will allow us to take
water from one province to another. Given their
significance, our media has been reporting on them.
I will only mention the so-called east-west water transfer
system in Holguín whose construction is advancing at good
speed. The first stage of this project will soon be ready
for opening. This will make possible a steady water supply
to the provincial capital and to other areas, as
construction proceeds and concludes with the reestablishment
of the water pipeline.
The brigades involved in these works have the necessary
equipment. Besides, the production capacity of heavy
polyethylene pipes has been largely increased with the
construction of factories in Holguín and Havana City, which
come to add to that of Ciego de Avila which has been in
operation for years.
This is an enormous investment that we are carrying out
looking not only into the present but especially into the
future. This work is of paramount importance in a long and
narrow island such as ours where the rainfalls run fast into
the sea and where we regularly sustain periods of severe
draughts which can be alleviated by transferring water
resources, including those from the mountains, through large
tunnels.
Such precaution will be appreciated by all, especially by
the future generations, those that will be living in a world
where drinking water will be an ever more scarce and
expensive resource.
That’s why many are predicting that future wars will be
fought over the reserves of this irreplaceable natural
resource. Presently, wars are being fought over oil.
A special place among the new investments undertaken in
cooperation with Venezuela is taken by petrochemicals: the
increase of oil refining, the production of fertilizers and
the manufacturing of synthetic resins like the so-called
PVC. This is used, among many other things, for the
manufacturing of petrohouses. Actually, 100 of these
houses are being built at the La Risueña community in this
city. They are similar to those built in Cienfuegos as part
of an effort to test their possibilities in our
environmental conditions.
At the same time, a major expansion has been undertaken --in
some cases with our own resources and in others with foreign
companies-- in the area of nickel, cement and mining. Many
of these works will be carried out here in Santiago de Cuba
and other eastern provinces, albeit they are spread all over
the country. For example, the expansion of the ‘Hermanos
Diaz’ oil refinery has been planned to exceed twice its
capacity; at that point it will be in a position to supply
oil to the entire eastern part of the country.
As we said last July 11th at the Parliament, an
extraordinary effort is made to invest the existing
resources in those areas that can generate a profit on a
short term basis. We should try for the best possible
coordination to exist among investors, designers and
construction workers in order to achieve the greatest
efficiency and to complete every work according to the
agreed timetable.
We must bear in mind that we are living in the midst of a
true world crisis which is not only economic but also
associated to climate change, the irrational use of energy
and a great number of other problems.
This situation impacts on every nation but it has a
particularly dramatic effect on the Third World peoples.
International agencies have been issuing strong alerts. Such
is the case of FAO, whose director general, who has just
visited with us, has made brave denunciations and offered
sound arguments on the seriousness of this crisis of
unpredictable consequences.
Meanwhile, in the light of this crisis the leaders of the
wealthy nations and the big transnational corporations
behave passively, an attitude that is not only selfish and
irresponsible but also suicidal, since we all live on this
planet whether they like it or not.
A few days back, even the President of the World Bank, an
organization nobody would say is opposed to capitalism,
brought pressure on the industrial nations for these to take
part in the solution of the problem. However, his words fell
on deaf ears despite the fact that he invited them to
contribute to the UN Food Program with the ridiculous sum of
500 million dollars. Both, the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund have stated that the already
serious situation with food is aggravated by the U.S. policy
that promotes the use of agrofuels.
Most of our people have shown to have sufficient knowledge
and maturity to understand these simply inescapable
realities. Others, however, try to stubbornly close theirs
eyes to the world problems.
I repeat that the revolution has done and will continue to
do anything within its power to continue to advance and to
reduce to the minimum the unavoidable consequences of the
present international crisis for our people. Yet, we should
timely explain to our people the difficulties so that we can
be better prepared to face them. We must get used to
receiving not only good news.
Some opinions collected with regards to the preliminary
draft of the Social Security Bill show that it is necessary
to continue providing information on this strategically
important issue.
The process of study and consultation with all of the
workers will begin next September, prior to the adoption of
the Bill by the National Assembly on December. That
procedure will be useful to clarify every doubt and offer
the opportunity to volunteer any criteria.
Everybody will be attentively listened to, whether their
views coincide or not with those of the majority, the same
as we have done with the views expressed during the process
of reflection on the last July 26th speech. We do
not aspire to unanimity which is usually fictitious, on this
or any other subject.
Nevertheless, it should be kept in mind that in 1953, the
year we attacked this and Bayamo’s barracks, life expectancy
in Cuba was 59 years, almost 20 years less than at this
moment. This means that at present we are living 5 years
more than the average Latin American and Caribbean, as I
said at the National Assembly. Let’s not forget that in the
past there were no jobs during the sugarcane off-season;
that there were long lines of unemployed; that the peasants
were evicted from the land they tilled and the workers from
their housing when they could not pay the rent. Let’s not
forget the terrible image of the hungry children begging for
alms, without access to doctors or schools.
Thousands of compatriots, including the martyrs of Moncada
and Bayamo, have given their lives to put an end to all
those injustices that Fidel summed up in History Will
Absolve Me. It is most appropriate to remember the situation
of poverty and inequality inherited by the revolution almost
have a century ago, especially when 71% of today’s Cubans
were born after January 1st, 1959.
There are still many things we would like our people to
enjoy, even though our reality today is very different from
that found by the Revolution. I remember that in the
toughest days of the Special Period, a Latin American trade
union leader addressing his Cuban colleagues said: "You may
have many problems, but I know my country and a good part of
this continent, and I’ll give you a piece of advise:
preserve what you have!"
Regardless of our great wishes to solve every problem we
cannot spend in excess of what we have. And to make the best
of what we have it is indispensable to save everything,
foremost fuel.
I shall repeat what the Chief of the Revolution said from
this same rostrum, in a day like this 35 years ago, because
I think it is permanently valid. He said:
"As a poor country, with little natural resources that can
be easily exploited, one that must work hard to earn its
living in a world where a large part of the peoples live in
dreadful poverty […] the goals of our people in terms of
material goods cannot be very ambitious." And he added:
"It will be our duty in the following years to rise to the
maximum the efficiency in the use of our economic and human
resources; and to carefully take note of costs and spending.
Also, we should have the courage to rectify the mistakes
made on the side of idealism in the management of our
economy."
Recently, the Law Decrees were published on the distribution
of idle land and the remuneration of teachers and professors
that return to the classrooms. Both have received ample
support from our people.
Likewise, an experience of which I spoke one year ago in
Camaguey, that is, the direct distribution of milk by the
producer to the grocery stores, keeps extending at a good
pace.
Last June 30th, the consumers registered in 5,361
grocery stores, that is, 49% of those in the 154
municipalities that could implement this procedure, were
receiving milk this way. Actually, 52 million liters of milk
were sold in this way in the first six months of this year.
Additionally, 1,800 tons of fuel has been saved whose value
exceeds 2,350,000 dollars. This fuel saving could increase
every year with the expansion of this direct milk
distribution procedure.
Efforts are also being made to improve the organization of
cargo transportation since it is a fact that an adequate
operation allows for a 20% fuel saving.
Besides, an experience is underway in 16 municipalities
which consist in centralizing the transportation used for
this purpose at that level, except in those cases where it
is not logical due to the type of vehicles used or the
nature of the work they do. The results are showing that the
work can be done with 30% of the cargo transportation
operated today. We shall continue to advance with this
experience at a pace that can guarantee its rigorous
application to avoid spoiling the idea, which, by the way,
has had to face some people’s useless resistance.
Progress has also been made in crucial sectors of the
economy. The oil production plan is being fulfilled,
although as we all know it is far from meeting our needs.
Also, a part of it is produced in joint ventures with
foreign companies from which we need to purchase the amount
required at the present high prices.
Advances have been experienced in the recovery of tourism.
Until June 25th, close to 1,309,000 tourists had
arrived in our country; this accounts for a 14.8% growth
compared with the same period last year. And something very
important: the cost has been reduced for every incoming
dollar.
Likewise, we keep on our cooperation with other peoples.
Next December, this city will be the venue of the Third
Cuba-CARICOM Summit. There is a growing exchange with the
Caribbean countries members of CARICOM. We are sure that the
Santiagueros will be great hosts.
It has also been decided that here, in our Heroic City, we
celebrate an extraordinary event: the 50th
Anniversary of the Revolution. Yesterday, today and forever:
Santiago is Santiago!
And together with production, we shall continue paying
special attention to defense, regardless of the results of
the next presidential elections in the United States.
The country is doing well in its defense preparation. On
November 2007 we conducted with satisfactory results the
Moncada military exercise in the west and center parts of
the island. This was done in the eastern territory last June
since the decision had been made to postpone it to avoid
interfering with the work of recuperation after the intense
rainfall at the end of last year.
On the other hand, Operation Caguairán continues to
favorably develop; this has enabled us to significantly
raise the preparation of our reservists, who complement the
regular troops, and of our militia.
At the same time, we have continued the engineering
fitting-out of the military theater of operations and the
modernization of the weapons and other means as well as the
training and upgrading of officers. This year over 2,000
officers graduated; the highest figure in the last ten
years.
Simultaneously, conditions are being created to perform with
excellence and rigor, in the month of November, the Bastion
2008 Strategic Military Exercise.
Comrades all:
When we think 50 years into the future it seems something
rather distant; however, as I look back at the past 55
years, I feel that they have gone by very quickly.
When we attacked the Moncada, none of us dreamed of being
here today; we didn’t have such dreams even when following
the Commander in Chief’s orders we entered this fortress
victoriously on January 1st, 1959, exactly five
year, five months and five days later. Most of us were
twenty or thirty some years old, some were even younger, and
half a century seemed to us an eternity. But if there is
something we have learned well is that time flies,
therefore, to waste it away out of inertia or hesitation is
an unforgivable negligence. We must take advantage of every
minute and learn fast from every experience, even from our
mistakes since they always teach a lesson if they are
seriously analyzed.
The main problems and tasks we shall continue to analyze
with the people, particularly with the workers, with the
same transparency and confidence we’ve always had. We shall
seek for the best solutions mindless of those who abroad try
to take advantage of such debates. Sooner or later the truth
prevails.
We shall continue to care for, prepare and listen to our
youths so that they can act with the firmness, the
conviction and the loyalty of our Five Heroes. We are aware
of the high responsibility and dedication demanded from the
new generations, and we are certain that the same as those
who unhesitatingly followed Céspedes in 1868, Martí in 1895
and Fidel in 1953, they will live up to their historical
moment, equally difficult and glorious.
Let’s never forget that this is the socialist Revolution of
the people, for the people and by the people. We will never
betray the memory of those who fell in combat or who were
murdered in Santiago de Cuba and Bayamo 55 years ago.
In the days following the attack, this barrack was wet with
blood everywhere, from the dungeons to the cellar, even to
the terrace roof of the building where I was taken one night
for several hours, when they brought me here from San Luis
where I was captured. I will never forget the horrific image
of the already clotted blood of my comrades spread
throughout that terrace roof.
That dreadful image, that stain on the glorious name of
Guillermón Moncada, could only be watched away by the
happiness and the smile of the tens of thousands of children
who have studied in the classrooms of this School Center,
one of the first barracks of the tyranny to be turned into a
school. This is partly the fruit of the work of our entire
people and of the sacrifices of all those who have given
their lives for the same ideas, from the independence wars
until the present, in Cuba and in the fulfillment of our
internationalist duty.
Our battle today is the same that started on July 26, 1953.
It is only taking place in new scenarios, at a higher scale
and now in defense of the great conquests attained in half a
century.
We are now facing an enemy which is much more powerful than
the soldiers of the tyranny entrenched behind the walls of
this barrack and in Bayamo. But the strength of our people
has also grown tremendously thanks to its revolutionary
unity, organization and conscience, and to its education. We
also have very superior reasons to sacrifice our lives for,
if need be.
Fifty-five years ago a bunch of revolutionaries attempted to
take heaven by storm. We were then impelled by the decision
to free our land from ignominy and to fulfill Martí’s
purpose to conquer all the justice for the people.
On behalf of every patriot in this island, from the heroic
Santiago de Cuba, birthplace of the Revolution, we dedicate
this 55th Anniversary to you, Fidel, and we say
to you:
We shall continue with the charge Rubén asked for and that
you started on July 26!
Everlasting glory to our martyrs!
Long live the Revolution!
Long live free Cuba |
