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(Translated by ESTI)
Comrades:
As comrade Fidel alerted us in his fundamental
Reflection of last January 14th, the
people’s mandate to this legislature is very
clear: to continue strengthening the Revolution
at a historical juncture which demands from us
to be dialectic and creative.
The composition of the State Council, which has
just been elected by this Assembly, raised much
expectation both in Cuba and abroad. The most
significant was clarified by comrade Fidel in
his Message of February 18th. There
is very little that I can add to what he said
except to express to our people, on behalf of
the Revolution’s Leadership, our appreciation
for the innumerable expressions of serenity,
maturity, self-assurance, and the combination of
genuine sadness and revolutionary determination.
I take on the responsibility entrusted to me
deeply convinced that, as I have often said,
there is only one Commander in Chief of the
Cuban Revolution.
Fidel is Fidel; we all know it very well. Fidel
is irreplaceable and the people shall continue
his work when he is no longer physically with
us; although his ideas will always be with us,
the same ideas that have made it possible to
build the beacon of dignity and justice our
country represents.
The Communist Party, a sure guarantee of the
unity of the Cuban nation, is the sole worthy
heir to our people’s confidence in its leader.
It is the top leading force of our State and
society as provided in Article 5 of our
Constitution approved by referendum by exactly
97.7% of the voters.
This conviction shall become especially
significant when as a fact of life the
generation that founded and forged the
Revolution is no longer present.
Fortunately, it is not that moment we are living
today. Fidel is here, as always, with a very
clear mind and his capacity to analyze and
foresee perfectly intact and strengthened now
that he can dedicate to studying and analyzing
the countless hours he previously used to tackle
the daily problems.
Despite his steady recovery, his physical
condition will not allow him those endless
working sessions --often separated by hardly a
few hours of rest—that characterized his work
practically from the moment he started the
revolutionary struggle, the same that grew in
intensity through the long years of the Special
Period when he did not take one single day off.
Comrade Fidel’s decision, a new contribution
enhancing his example, ensures as from now the
continuity of the Revolution and is perfectly
consistent with a life guided by Martí’s precept
that: “All the glory of the world fits in a
kernel of corn.”
Likewise, his determination is unchangeable with
regards to his decision to continue making his
contribution to the revolutionary cause and to
the most noble ideas and objectives of mankind,
while he has the strength to do so.
Therefore, with the certainty that I am
expressing the will of our people, I appeal to
this Assembly, as the supreme body of the State
power, to allow me to continue consulting with
the maximum leader of the Revolution, comrade
Fidel Castro Ruz, the decisions of special
transcendence for the future of our nation,
basically those associated to defense, foreign
policy and the socioeconomic development of the
country.
For this and for many other reasons, I shall
rather often today quote some of the fundamental
ideas and concepts expressed by him in his
Reflections. I avail myself of this occasion to
say that we should study them for they are
educational and they show his capacity to look
into the future. We should always bear in mind
something that Raul Roa liked to say to those
close to him: “Fidel hears the grass growing and
sees what is happening around the corner.”
Comrade Deputies:
I am aware of my responsibility to the people as
I take on the task entrusted to me. But I am
also convinced that as it has been the case
until today, I can count on the support of those
holding positions of responsibility at various
levels, and even more importantly, I can count
on the support of my compatriots without which a
society like ours could not succeed.
The Assembly, in full compliance with the view
of the Party’s Political Bureau, elected comrade
José Ramón Machado Ventura as First Vice
President of the State Council and later
approved his appointment as First Vice President
of the Council of Ministers.
As I explained in my proposal to fill that
position, it is convenient that under the
present circumstances the same comrade takes on
these two responsibilities in the State and
Government, as it has been the case until now.
Considering his revolutionary life and
convictions, his experience and knowledge, his
qualification as a leader and a human being,
there is no doubt that he meets the requirements
to carry out these high duties.
Likewise, the assembly has agreed, in accordance
with Article 75 of the Constitution, to analyze
the composition of the Government in a future
session later this same year. This is a timely
decision, since we are not dealing only with
appointments, but rather with decisions about
which changes might be required in the system of
institutions pertaining to the central
administration of the State, and this needs more
time.
During the first 15 years of the Revolution, the
State structures inherited from capitalism were
adjusted as we went along to undertake the tasks
imposed by the radical economic, political and
social changes.
The 1960’s institutionalization process, however
imperfect, enabled us to structure an articulate
system corresponding to those circumstances. We
were then able to put ourselves on a level with
the socialist countries, in terms of both good
and bad experiences.
Finally, in 1994, the most critical moment of
the Special Period, considerable adjustments
were made leading to the reduction and merging
of institutions as well as to the redistribution
of the tasks previously entrusted to some of
them. However, these changes were undertaken
with the rush imposed by the necessity to
quickly adapt to a radically different, very
hostile and extremely dangerous scenario.
In the fourteen years that have passed since
then, the national and international scene has
noticeably changed. Today, a more compact and
operational structure is required, with a lower
number of institutions under the central
administration of the State and a better
distribution of their functions. This will
enable us to reduce the enormous amount of
meetings, coordination, permissions,
conciliations, provisions, rules and
regulations, etc., etc. It will also allow us to
bring together some decisive economic activities
which are presently disseminated through various
entities, and to make a better use of our
cadres.
In summary, our Government’s work must be more
efficient.
The Assembly has been renovated in a higher
proportion than the previous legislature. The
number of women deputies has grown over seven
percent; they now make up almost half of the
legislature, over 43%. There is also an increase
from 23 to 36 in the number of those between 18
and 30 years of age, that is, the youngest,
although we also have a higher number of
deputies who are over sixty.
It is very significant that a higher number of
deputies are directly linked to production and
services, that is, workers, farmers and other
laborers. The same applies to members of the
armed institutions, sportsmen, artists, writers,
journalists and other professionals who,
together with the student leaders and the
comrades working in the people’s councils make
up over fifty percent of the Assembly.
These data and the simple enumeration of the
tasks discharged by every one of you –from
national cadres to retirees and religious
leaders-- allow us to say that those meeting
here are a small-scale sample of the Cuban
society.
This is a basic premise albeit it cannot by
itself guarantee the fulfillment of the
Parliament’s mission. First and foremost an
intelligent, organized, creative and strong
performance is required from all members,
particularly while working in the commissions
where there is more time to focus on certain
issues and to study them listening to a greater
number of comrades.
In my visit last December to the Santiago de
Cuba district that elected comrade Fidel a
deputy, I said that the massive support enjoyed
by the revolution demands from us that we
question everything we do in order to improve on
it.
I also said that if the people are firmly united
behind a single party, this must be more
democratic than any other, and so must be the
entire society. This society, of course, can be
improved, as any other human work, but it is
undoubtedly full of justice and everybody in it
has the opportunity to express their views and,
better still, to work for the materialization of
whatever we all agree.
There is no reason to fear discrepancies in a
society such as ours, where its very nature
precludes the existence of antagonistic
contradictions, since the social classes that
make it up are not antagonistic themselves. The
best solutions can come from a profound exchange
of differing opinions, if such an exchange is
guided by sensible purposes and the views are
uttered with responsibility.
That’s how the majority of Cubans have acted,
from our best scientists, intellectuals,
workers, farmers and students to the most humble
housewife.
At different stages of the Revolution, including
the present, when objectively assessing both the
strategic issues and the difficulties of their
everyday lives, they have all set an example of
political maturity and awareness of realities.
Meanwhile, they are increasingly convinced that
the only source of wealth for the society rests
with the productive work, above all when man and
resources are efficiently employed.
The international doomsayers forecasting the
death of the Revolution tried to capitalize on
the criticisms made during the study and
discussion of the speech made on July 26th
in Camagüey. They overlooked the fact that it
was debate and criticism within socialism. This
was confirmed way over, a few months later, by
the results of our electoral process which
concluded last January 20th.
It is also true that some people are inclined to
talk before being properly informed. These make
demands without thinking whether they are
talking rationally or irrationally. As a rule,
they agree with those who claim rights without
ever mentioning duties. As Fidel put it in his
Reflections of January 16th: “…they
expect miracles from our determined and
dignified Revolution.”
We do not deny their right to expression,
provided they do it with respect for the law. In
the face of such an expression we can neither be
extremists nor naives. When the motivation is
despair due a personal problem or the lack of
information, we should be patient and offer the
necessary arguments.
But if anyone intends to put pressure motivated
by their wishes to be in the limelight or by
ambition, demagoguery, opportunism, simulation,
arrogance or any other human weakness of a
similar nature, we must face them resolutely,
avoiding offense but calling a spade a spade.
We should never forget that the enemy never
sleeps, that it is always willing to use our
carelessness to do us harm, even if some are
bent on ignoring it.
We shall not avoid listening to everyone’s
honest opinion, which is very useful and
necessary simply because of the sometimes
ridiculous noise made every time a citizen of
our country says something that the very noise
makers would pay no attention to if they heard
it anywhere else on the planet.
We are aware that such messages are intended to
mislead or at least to create confusion; but in
case anyone has had the outlandish notion to
scare us off with them, I shall say that the
reason we are still here --and we will continue
to be here-- is that our people and its
Revolution have always faced up, without fear or
hesitation and with the truth, all sorts of
aggressions by the greatest military and
economic power in the world.
Many examples could be offered; suffice it to
mention the incontrovertible dignity of our Five
Heroes in their stance before every attempt at
breaking their will during a decade of unjust
incarceration.
I avail myself of the occasion to express my
gratitude, on behalf of our people, for the
countless expressions of solidarity, respect,
affection, encouragement and legitimate concern
over the leader of the Revolution conveyed by
Heads of State and Government, political
parties, non governmental organizations,
outstanding intellectuals and ordinary people
from every corner of the world after the
publication of his Message last Tuesday. We
shall never fail their confidence in us.
At the same time, we take due notice of the
offensive and overtly interfering statements of
the imperialists and some of their closest
allies.
As could be expected, the State Department
hastily announced the continuation of the
blockade in accordance with the policy of the
present Administration.
Others, with certain nuances, are bent on
conditioning relations with Cuba to a
“transition” process aimed at destroying the
work of so many years of struggle.
Little do they know our people, so proud of its
full sovereignty and independence!
The Revolution is the work of free men and women
and it has been permanently opened to debate;
but it has never given an inch to pressures nor
has it ever been influenced by them, whether big
or small.
I shall only add that Fidel’s Reflections,
published on Friday, are a masterly response to
all of them.
As for the difficulties the country faces
domestically, the decision on their priorities
and the pace of their solution will invariably
be linked to the available resources and the
deep, rational and collective analysis made by
the corresponding Party, State or Government
institutions. In those cases where it is deemed
necessary, there will be a previous consultation
with the people in the corresponding sector of
society, or even with the entire people, if it
were a very transcendental issue.
Some things need time for they should be
thoroughly studied since a mistake brought about
by improvisation, superficiality or haste could
have substantial negative consequences. Good
planning is most important for we cannot spend
more than we have. Then we should organize
things well, and work in an orderly and
disciplined fashion; this is fundamental.
When discussing these issues we should always
bear in mind Fidel’s deep conviction, reiterated
in his Message of February 18th, that
“…the present problems of the Cuban society
require more variables for each concrete problem
than those contained in a chess game. We cannot
ignore one single detail; this is not an easy
path to take, if the intelligence of a human
being in a revolutionary society is to prevail
over instinct.”
I insist on the importance of discipline. We
must all be demanding and back up those who are.
If it were necessary, we should help them
improve their methods and support them
resolutely before the collective.
You should understand that I am not talking of
acting with extremism or of accepting abuse of
authority or injustices; what I mean is that we
should all do what corresponds in the
strengthening of discipline and social order. If
we don’t do it our people stand to suffer the
consequences.
It is true that there are objective limitations;
we know them well and we suffer daily trying to
solve them as soon as possible. We are aware of
the enormous efforts required by the
strengthening of the economy, which is an
unavoidable premise to advance in any other area
of society, given the real war waged by the
United States administration against our
country.
Their intention has not changed from the triumph
of the Revolution, i.e. to make our people
suffer as much as possible in order to force it
to abandon its decision to be free.
This is a reality that far from intimidating us
should continue making us stronger. Instead of
using it as an excuse for our mistakes, it
should serve as encouragement to produce more
and to offer better services, to make efforts to
find the ways and means to remove any deterrent
to the productive forces and to the exploitation
of the significant potential offered by savings
and by the correct organization of labor.
From the days of the independence wars until the
present, our history teaches us that the greater
the difficulties the greater the need for order,
discipline and unity. The lacks of cohesion as
well as disorder and impunity have always been
among the worst enemies of a fighting people.
I repeat that the country’s priority will be to
meet the basic needs of the population, both
material and spiritual, based on the sustained
strengthening of the national economy and its
productive basis without which, I’ll say it
again, development would be impossible.
An example of this is the measures proposed to
increase the agricultural and livestock
production and to better their marketing, which
have been analyzed in every province by a large
representation of those in charge of
implementing them, including the producers
themselves.
Thus, we shall continue to act with regards to
every issue of cardinal importance for the
country.
We are examining, for instance, everything
related to the timely implementation of comrade
Fidel’s ideas on “the progressive, gradual and
prudent revaluation of the Cuban peso,” exactly
as he said it on March 2005. At the same time,
we keep delving into the phenomenon of the
double currency in the economy.
These are all very sensitive and complex issues
when, as in our case, there is a firm
willingness to protect and to steadily increase
the incomes and savings of the population,
particularly of those least favored.
To avoid traumatic effects or inconsistencies,
any changes related to the currency shall be
made with a comprehensive approach, mindful,
among other things, of the wage system, the
retail prices, the entitlements and the
subsidies running in the millions presently
required by numerous services and products
distributed on an egalitarian basis, such as
those provided by the ration card which under
the present conditions of our economy become
irrational and unsustainable.
It is our strategic objective today to advance
in an articulate, sound and well-thought out
manner until the wages recover their role and
everyone’s living standard corresponds directly
with their legally earned incomes, that is, with
the significance and quantity of their
contribution to society.
As Fidel pointed out in his Reflection of
January 16th: “…nor should we give
away anything to those who could be producing
and who don’t produce, or who produce very
little. Reward the merits of those who work with
their hands or their minds.”
We are simultaneously studying other issues
following a priority, and the pace of progress
will depend on their complexity and the
resources available.
We have the basics to find the best possible
solutions within our material possibilities and
organizational capabilities, which shall
continue to grow: an educated people, with a
high political culture and firmly united under
the principles summed up by comrade Fidel in his
Reflections of January 24th, when he
said:
“For me, unity means sharing in the struggle,
the risks, the sacrifices, the aims, ideas,
concepts and strategies assumed after discussion
and analysis. Unity means a common struggle
against annexationists, quislings and corrupt
individuals who have nothing in common with a
militant revolutionary,” end of quote.
I insist on what I said here during the previous
session of this Assembly: “For the enormous
possibilities of this unity to turn into
tangible results, it is indispensable that all
the institutions and organizations work with the
necessary integration.”
Institutionalization, --I repeat--
institutionalization is an important support of
this decisive purpose and one of the pillars of
the Revolution’s invulnerability in the
political field; therefore, we must work for its
continued improvement. We should never believe
that what we have done is perfect.
Our democracy is as participatory as few others
are, but we should be aware that the functioning
of the State and Government institutions is not
yet as effective as our people rightfully
demand. This is something we should all think
about.
On December, I referred to the excess of
prohibitions and regulations, and in the next
few weeks we shall start removing the most
simple of them. Many had had the purpose of
preventing the emergence of new inequalities at
a time of general shortages, even when that
meant relinquishing certain incomes.
The suppression of other procedures, even if
they might sound simple to some, will take more
time for they require a more comprehensive study
and changes of certain legal regulations, in
addition to the fact that some of these are
influenced by measures taken against our country
by successive U.S administrations.
Changing subject, there is also the tendency to
apply the same recipe everywhere. As a result of
this --and this is perhaps its worst
consequence-- many believe that the solution of
every problem demands a national measure.
In many respects, local initiative can be
effective and viable; this much has been proven
with the direct distribution of milk, as I said
last July 26th. This experience has
already been extended to 64 municipalities from
13 provinces in the country; 40 of them are
completely applying this system. We are also
advancing in the remaining municipalities and in
the dairy industry.
In addition to ensuring prompt and proper
distribution of this essential product, which is
the main objective, in the last few months of
this past year said program allowed us to save
more than 6 thousand tons of powder milk whose
purchase would have cost in excess of 30 million
USD, at the average price in the period of 5
thousand USD a ton.
Additionally, the hard currency expenses were
reduced in 2.6 millions, including in this
figure the cost of 600 thousand litters of fuel.
Other examples could be taken from the most
diverse sectors; therefore, we must continue to
think of similar solutions at all levels of the
administration.
Comrades:
On a day like this, in 1895, responding to a
call from Martí, the Old and the New Generations
resumed the struggle for the independence
thwarted by the United States military
intervention. Half a century later, we again
managed to be united and to fight against the
same enemy.
It was not by chance that this date was chosen,
50 years ago, for the first broadcasting by
Radio Rebelde on the Sierra Maestra, nor that
this was the date in 1976 when we proclaimed our
Socialist Constitution.
On this 113th anniversary of the
Necessary War, we are faced with many really
difficult challenges. In order to face them,
let’s bear in mind what Fidel wrote in his
Reflections published last December 10th,
when he alerted us:
“For every Cuban, Martí’s frowning countenance
and Maceo’s withering look point to the arduous
path of duty, not to a more comfortable life.”
Thank you, very much. |
