Speaking at an event marking the 158th anniversary of the start of the wars of independence, Jose Ramon Monteagudo—a member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee and head of its Agri-food Department—affirmed that the Revolution reaffirms itself as a living force, sustained by the strength of a united people and inspired by the legacy of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro and Army General Raul Castro.

The official explained that this period aims to highlight the continuity of the revolutionary process and honor popular resistance through its political, historical, cultural, and social values, based on the premise that unity around the Party is the most valuable strategic weapon.

Key activities in the program include paying tribute to the nation’s heroes and martyrs, strengthening defense readiness, advancing socioeconomic priorities, and implementing ongoing transformations.

Monteagudo urged political and mass organizations, as well as state institutions, to work intensively with high levels of public participation to achieve superior results in the lead-up to the anniversary.

The official remembered the courage shown by Carlos Manuel de Cespedes on October 10, 1868, when he freed his slaves and launched the struggle against Spanish colonialism—an example of resistance that remains relevant in the face of attempts at foreign domination.

He remembered that the Father of the Nation had warned early on about the US government’s expansionist designs on the island—a warning that remains highly relevant today given the pressures facing the Caribbean nation.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel attended the ceremony commemorating the start of the wars of independence, alongside other members of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Political Bureau and government and state officials.

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