Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba; President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and Party Second Secretary José Ramón Machado Ventura, attended the solemn session of the Havana Provincial Assembly of People’s Power on November 16, in García Lorca Hall of the city’s Alicia Alonso Gran Teatro.To honor the Cuban capital’s five centuries, the Provincial Assembly convened its first extraordinary session, which was also attended by Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly of People’s Power and the Council of State, as well as Vice President of the Republic Salvador Valdés Mesa.
The act began by remembering Commandante en jefe Fidel Castro Ruz, as well as the words of City Historian Eusebio Leal Spengler, who once stated, “Havana is great for its people, for its streets, its corners; here lived great women and men who contributed to forging the homeland.
The president of the Provincial Assembly of People’s Power, Reinaldo García Zapata, stated: “Havana has managed to preserve the architectural heritage of its colonial past, which delights travelers and its inhabitants adore. The Wonder City is full of glorious memories that will never be forgotten.”Havana’s best times, he added, have been those of these last 60 years. May the celebration be, above all, a tribute to the work of the Revolution. “What will happen after the 500th anniversary? We will continue working.
This date has served as a pretext to beautify the city even more. May this day mark the beginning of what we must continue to do for Havana, from now on,” he said at the event, which was also attended by Comandante de la Revolución Ramiro Valdés and Luis Antonio Torres Iríbar, Party first secretary in the capital.As part of the extraordinary session, the Provincial Assembly of People’s Power granted a special recognition, on this single occasion, to Eusebio Leal, for the greatness of his example, as a paradigm of audacity and courage, and his tireless work in the restoration of Havana’s central historic district.
“Welcome and thank you for joining us for the celebrations of the city’s half millennium,” said Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez as he greeted figures from abroad who attended the 500th anniversary events.In the nation’s Capitol, the President reiterated. “Havana, beautiful and sensitive, hospitable and safe for residents and visitors,” is a “city of science, dance, cinema, literature, sports, and an example of resistance to neoliberalism and imperialism.
”In this way, formally received were figures and friends from other latitudes who came to celebrate the Cuban capital’s birthday, which was honored in many ways, including the publication of a book highlighting the passion and richness of the city’s spiritual strength, Noble Habana, by Cuban photographer Alejandro Azcuy Domínguez, which was presented in the Plaza de Armas, with President Díaz-Canel on hand.
The gala on the National Capitol’s grand stairway was another high point of the anniversary, with music, dance, and lights moving the spirits of Havana residents and Cubans, alike.Luis Antonio Torres Iríbar, Party first secretary of the Party in the capital, made a point of congratulating all Cubans for making Havana’s 500th anniversary a success, in terms of the restoration and quality of the celebration.
He also highlighted the effort and joint work of institutions, the Party, and government, and described 2019 as an extraordinary year, considering the limitations and difficulties caused by the tightening of the blockade imposed by the United States and natural disasters. “The tornado of January 27 forced us to assume new objectives.
We turned sadness into victory, recently meeting 100% of goals set for the delivery of homes to replace those totally destroyed by that meteorological event; in addition to restoring and rebuilding thousands of emblematic buildings in the health, education, sports, and culture sectors.
In all municipalities, many actions were taken and tasks completed that today allow us the satisfaction of having done our duty,” he stated.Beginning today, we have a year to continue celebrating and continue working for Havana, the greatest, Torres Iríbar concluded.
(Granma)