November 25, 2020. Cultural event at University
of Havana.
The Cuban people at home and around the world
celebrated the life and indelible contributions of
the legendary leader of the Cuban Revolution,
Fidel Castro, on the fourth anniversary of his
death. November 25 also marked the 64th
anniversary of the departure from Mexico of the
Cuban revolutionaries led by Fidel on board the
Granma.
An online report from Granma recounts the
main celebrations in Havana on the evening of
November 25:
"Many came to meet Fidel again on the University
of Havana's grand stairway, the scene of so many
rebellious, revolutionary events, bringing him to
the present, giving his work continuity, in the
voices of children, in songs of commitment and
celebration, in verse...
"On the fourth anniversary of the physical
disappearance of the Comandante en jefe,
students and young workers, representing all of
Cuba, expressed their commitment to resist, to
renew their vows to continue Fidel's work, during
a cultural event with the President of the
Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and Army Corps
General Leopoldo Cintra Frias, minister of the
Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) on hand, along
with other members of the Party Political Bureau
and Central Committee Secretariat, the government
and mass organizations.
"In these hard times, full of difficult
challenges, we turn to Fidel, to seek nourishment
in his thoughtful reflections, his work, dreams
and efforts, as José Ángel Fernández Castañeda,
President of the University Student Federation
[FEU], said, 'From him we draw the strength to
move forward.'"
Meanwhile, Cuba's Union of Young Communists
(UJC), and Cuban student and social organizations
held the international conference "Banners of
Ideas" from November 24 to 26, in commemoration of
Fidel and affirming their convictions to carry on
the principles he espoused, under the slogan
"Unity for solidarity, anti-imperialism and
anti-neoliberalism: Action for necessary
transformation in times of COVID-19."
The online conference included a central forum on
Fidel's thought; a special discussion on peace,
and regional meetings to exchange information on
our different realities, in defence and solidarity
with the just causes of the people, and to promote
cooperation that guarantees access to all COVID-19
medications and vaccines to save lives during the
pandemic.
To watch the closing session of the meeting, that
begins with a tribute to Fidel, click here.
At the headquarters of the Cuban Workers'
Federation (CTC), an event was held in honour of
Fidel at which Teté Puebla (Delsa Esther Puebla
Viltre) recounted her experiences working with
Fidel and the Rebel Army beginning in 1957 when
she was just 16 years old. She later took part in
a ceremony to give Cuban youth awards from the CTC
for their dedication in the current "combat"
against COVID-19 or in key sectors of the economy
or services.
The Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC)
launched two books celebrating Fidel's
contributions. Professor María Elena Álvarez
Acosta and Abel González Santamaría presented
their book The World in Fidel: Drawing New
Paradigms? It addresses Cuba's foreign
policy, Fidel's conception of the world and, in
that sense, shows how the Commander in Chief
viewed capitalism and the characteristics of the
international system.
Fabián Escalante Font presented his new book Revolution
and Counterrevolution in Cuba. It covers six
decades of history in essays, dismantling the
counterrevolutionary actions against socialism in
Cuba, and unmasking those who have been its main
instigators.
Several exhibitions are being held on the
occasion of the anniversary of Fidel's passing,
including an exhibition of photos of Fidel taken
by Alex Castro that opened on November 24. A
virtual photo exhibition, featuring the work of
Roberto Chile runs from November 25 to January 1,
2021 (to view, click here). A
virtual tribute to Fidel is being hosted by the
ALBA Cultural House in Havana on November 29 at
6:00 pm, viewable on its Facebook, Twitter or Telegram
accounts.
Messages paying respects to
Fidel were also received from around the world
and tributes were held in many countries,
including Canada.
Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, Santiago de Cuba
Province
In Santiago de Cuba's Santa Ifigenia Cemetery,
where flowers surrounded the monumental boulder
that safeguards Fidel's ashes, a tribute to the
historic leader of the Revolution was led by first
secretary of the Party in the province, Lázaro
Expósito Canto, and Lieutenant Governor Manuel
Falcón Hernández.
Bayamo, Granma Province
November 25, 2020. Commemorations in Revolution
Square in Bayamo, Granma province.
(Photos: Cubadebate,
Trabajadores, Estudios Revolucion, Juventud
Rebelde, UNEAC, Bayamo Radio Station.)
