Díaz-Canel responds to a delegate in Matanzas: "We must stand strong."

The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, who was in the municipality of Calimete on Friday afternoon, responded to a delegate from the People's Power by stating that "we must be brave," a common phrase he uses to emphasize that Cuba will overcome the crisis it is facing.

Díaz-Canel, addressing the residents in what appeared to be a spontaneous gathering, reflected on the importance of the community's role in seeking solutions to local problems, emphasizing the need to address and respond to the concerns of citizens.

According to a statement posted on social media by the Provincial Assembly of Matanzas, the leader's speech emphasized collective responsibility and the authorities' commitment to the population, aligning with their usual narrative of reinforcing community involvement as a mechanism to address the crisis the country is facing.

The leader reiterated that the problems facing the island will not be solved by external agents, stating that "we must stand firm, we must fight, even in very difficult circumstances."

"We try to highlight the positive experiences in the communities and generalize them so that negative experiences can turn into positive ones. This shows us that there are many groups doing things differently and finding solutions to problems. Therefore, I am convinced of this, not just because I wish for it, but because of what I see. Based on what we are observing, we can indeed overcome this situation, but we must do so through hard work and the collective effort of everyone," said Jesús Sablón Moreno to the residents.

Díaz-Canel has repeatedly used the expression “we must persevere” to call for resilience and perseverance from the Cuban population amid the economic crisis. In June 2024, during a public address, he emphasized that no one would solve the island's problems from the outside, urging citizens to face the scarcity of food and other essential goods with patience and determination.

The narrative of "guapeo" reinforces its community mobilization strategy, but it also highlights the lack of concrete solutions to address the rising social and economic demands.