Historic Congress Successfully Concludes Its Deliberations
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In opening
remarks to the first session by Second Secretary of the Central
Committee, José Ramón Machado Ventura, he said
that what had been achieved in the five years since the 7th Congress
and what remained to be done had been analyzed in review and
accountability processes of grassroots organizations and regional
structures of the Party, with the findings incorporated in documents
delegates had studied and discussed over the past month and would
further discuss at the Congress. Machado noted that an important
portion of delegates' time would be devoted to work in three
Commissions to facilitate the exchange of opinions.
The highlight of the opening day was the presentation of the
Central Report to the Congress and speech by Raúl Castro
Ruz. Amongst other things, Raúl announced that he was ending
his tenure as First Secretary of the Party, saying his decision was
made based on the satisfaction of having fulfilled
his duty and his confidence in Cuba's future. "Nothing obliges me to
take this decision," he said, "but I fervently believe in the strength
and value of example and in the understanding of my compatriots. Let
nobody doubt that as long as I live I will be ready, with my foot in
the stirrup, to defend
the Homeland, the Revolution and Socialism." The speech addressed the
work of the Party since the 7th Congress, the current situation and the
needs to be addressed at this time.
On the second day of the Congress delegates deliberated on key questions of the agenda in three commissions struck for that purpose.
Commission 1 dealt with the economic and social results achieved since the 7th Congress and projections for further progress, as well as evaluation of the implementation of the Guidelines of the Economic and Social Policy of the Party and the Revolution and the updating of these. The Commission produced two draft resolutions. The first stated that the updated conceptualization of Cuba's economic and social model confirms that Cuban society is in a historical period of socialist construction, and is based on socialist principles. It emphasized that the main transformations resulting from the updating were based on the consolidation and continuity of the Revolution.
It also reaffirmed the leading role of the Communist Party of Cuba as an expression of the unity of the Cuban people around the leadership of the Revolution.
One of the key things the second resolution dealt with was the complex, ongoing work of unifying the country's monetary system by dismantling the two-tier currency policy in place since the 1990s. It involves the gradual elimination of the convertible peso (CUC), leaving only the traditional national peso (CUP) as the country's official currency. The resolution acknowledged that the monetary reordering, considered as essential to boost the economy and the country's development, impacted all Cuban citizens and all aspects of the country's economic and social life, but that no one would be left behind.
Commission 2 was charged with evaluating the fulfillment of the resolution of the 7th Congress with respect to the functioning of the Party, its ideological activity and links with the masses, and the plans for improving its work in the present and future. The draft resolution submitted by the Second Commission emphasized among other things the need to:
- continue strengthening the Party's ideological and political work, especially with the new generations.
- think and act as a country, with greater commitment, firmness, creativity and intelligence.
- strengthen the ideological consensus by adhering to the most advanced ideas of Cuban and universal revolutionary thought -- the ideology of Martí, Marxism-Leninism, the legacy of Fidel and the teachings of Raúl.
- deepen the Party's links at all levels with the masses.
- consolidate the attention to and permanent links with the Young Communists League (UJC) and the youth in general.
Commission 3, headed up by President Miguel Díaz-Canel, dealt with the Party's Cadre Policy which he called a strategic question for Cuba. In this Commission delegates discussed the assessment of the Cadre Policy as applied to the Young Communists League, mass organizations in the society, the state and government. Díaz-Canel made an important presentation on the role of the Party in achieving better results. Delegates also offered their own opinions, criticisms and recommendations.
The draft resolution of Commission 3 stated that those in leadership positions must increase their links with the masses, have the capacity to mobilize, argue, dialogue and be decisive, as well as raise their political and human sensitivity, their responsibility, and use of collective leadership to solve problems. It also said that tackling corruption and other harmful behaviours was a priority as this constituted a national security matter and required greater vigilance, strictness and controls.
On day three of the Congress in plenary session, a resolution was discussed and approved to adopt the Central Report delivered by First Secretary Raúl Castro. The draft resolutions submitted by the three commissions were also approved. The same day, a new 114-member Central Committee was elected to serve for the next five years.
At its first plenary meeting held on day four of the Congress, the newly constituted Central Committee elected Miguel Díaz-Canel as its First Secretary and also elected its Political Bureau and Secretariat.
April 19, 2021. Newly elected First
Secretary Miguel Díaz-Canel addresses the
closing session of the Communist Party of Cuba's 8th Congress. Banner
reads:
"The Party is the soul of the Revolution."
In his speech to the closing session of
the Congress, Díaz-Canel paid tribute to Raúl,
who he said will always continue to be present because he is a
reference for every Cuban communist and revolutionary. He said the work
done under Raúl's leadership at the head of the country over
the last
decade was "colossal." In his speech he also addressed the pressing
concerns and challenges facing the Cuban nation and people on different
fronts, including those taken up in the three Commissions.
In this Supplement TML Monthly
is carrying for readers' information, highlights of a report on the 8th
Congress and the situation in Cuba provided by Cuban Ambassador to
Canada Josefina Vidal to the recent Annual General Meeting of Ottawa
Cuba Connections. The Ambassador was one of the 300 delegates able to
attend the Congress in person at the Convention Centre, along with
Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez. The Supplement also
publishes the full text of the Central Report to the Congress presented
by Raúl Castro and the full text of the speech delivered by
Miguel Díaz-Canel to the Closing Session of the Congress.
(With files from Cubadebate, Granma. Photos: ACN, PCC)
This article was published in
Volume 51 Number 10 - May 4, 2021
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2021/Articles/MS51102.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca