“The call now is for action: not to wait, not to lament, not to settle; to think as a nation, to boldly seek alternatives, to treat every resource as if it were the last, to produce, to substitute imports, to develop our potential, and to trust in our own strength,” the leader emphasized during the main ceremony marking National Rebellion Day.

The Head of State reaffirmed his commitment to the homeland, the Revolution, the achievements of socialism, and the task of rebuilding an economy battered by centuries of colonialism, decades of neocolonialism, and over 60 years of a tightened blockade that has become a genocidal scheme.

At the event commemorating the events of July 26, 1953—hosted by the province of Pinar del Rio—Diaz-Canel highlighted that all sectors of society are working together to innovate, contribute, and modify technologies to ensure continued progress.

He stated, “Our response to strangulation is inventiveness, creativity, and—much to their annoyance—the joy of the Cuban people. The response to the blockade is intelligent, efficient effort. The response to attempts to isolate and divide us is unity.”

He explained that the country is implementing a macroeconomic stabilization process and boosting all forms of economic management, incentivizing workers and farmers, and opening avenues for responsible investment—all while adhering to the principle that changes must not lose sight of social justice.

He reaffirmed that Cuba is and will remain a sovereign nation; that no one, under any circumstances, has the right to make decisions for the Caribbean country; and that “economic, political, and social decisions are and will be ours.”

Diaz-Canel reiterated that, in the year of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro’s centenary, Cubans are called upon to honor his memory through deeds, work, and dignity, and with the clarity and determination needed to implement necessary transformations in the shortest possible time.

jdt/oda/mpp