Díaz-Canel Acknowledges the Efforts of the Guantánamo People in Driving Recovery Work

For the third consecutive week following Hurricane Melissa, the President of the National Defense Council, Miguel Díaz-Canel, visited the eastern region of the country. He was accompanied by Political Bureau member and Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz.

The President arrived in Guantánamo province on Thursday morning, a territory immersed in the recovery stage and working on eight priorities. These include feeding the population, provincial sanitation, rehabilitating basic services for the people, water supply and electricity, and the epidemiological situation, among others.

Assessing the Recovery's Progress

In a meeting involving Guantánamo authorities, organizations, and institutions, Joel Pérez García, President of the Provincial Defense Council, reported that 4,500 homes have been recovered, primarily through the efforts of families. Furthermore, of the 425 families receiving assistance, 214 have already had their problems addressed.

During the evaluation of the recovery progress in Guantánamo, central government authorities explained the current status in various sectors. Fixed and mobile telephony show recovery rates above 80 percent of the damages caused by the hurricane. Meanwhile, over 98 percent of customers now have electrical service, which has impacted the restoration of potable water service for most of the population.

Regarding donations and aid, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz stated they must be allocated transparently. He requested clear explanations of the actions being taken in each location, emphasizing that "people must feel accompanied at all times."

Focus on Public Health and Pricing

President of the National Defense Council, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, while assessing the province's priorities, proposed a differentiated approach to combating arboviruses, enhancing adulticide treatments. He also called for continued attention to pricing in the complex current scenario.

"You have done very meritorious work," a great effort is apparent. "Today we have seen that progress has been made in recovering services. Much remains to be done, and we must continue working hard."

On-the-Ground Visit

The President visited the Guantánamo community of Costa Rica, located in the municipality of El Salvador. There, he held an exchange with Party, Government authorities, and the population. A gradual return to normality is observed, with increased vitality in the basic services impacting the community.

Díaz-Canel suggested boosting the planting and harvesting of short-cycle crops and working efficiently in public processing offices. The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party visited one of the nearby offices and, in dialogue with its workers, inquired about the progress of this important work to certify the damages caused by Melissa and channel solutions.

In the nearby park, the population awaited him. He congratulated them for their response in the hurricane's aftermath, urging them "to face the challenge with courage" as he commented on his impressions from the tour.

Visit to a Special School

The visit began at the "14 de Junio" special school, with an enrollment of 170 children, the only one of its kind in Guantánamo. The children's gratitude was evident upon Díaz-Canel's arrival. "Thank you very much for visiting us," expressed one of the students in sign language, emotionally, after having requested the President during the past Congress of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Havana for the possibility to meet and interact with the children and faculty of his school.

The President went to the auditory rehabilitation laboratory, equipped with modern technology donated by supportive friends in Germany. The classroom has 10 computers that will enhance and strengthen the teaching for the children at the center.

Guantánamo is recovering little by little, and with the effort and unity of all, it begins to transform the profound marks left by Melissa in our easternmost province.