The province of Mayabeque held a "generational exchange" this week at the headquarters of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, with founders of the party, members of the Young Communists Union, and political leaders gathered to discuss legacies, continuities, and Marti's love. All of this while Cuba is undergoing one of the most brutal crises in its recent history: blackouts lasting up to twenty hours a day, chronic shortages of food and medicine, and a massive wave of emigration that shows no signs of stopping.
The event, presided over by Elson Antonio Ramos Linares, the first secretary of the PCC in Mayabeque, and attended by Governor Manuel Aguiar Lamas, was held to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the party.
One of the present founders quoted Martí to support his call for cohesion: "The moment is one of harmony and balance. There is love. We must be consistent, without losing our principles and values, and always maintain firmness and set an example." Another participant emphasized the usefulness of the meeting: "The fighters who contributed their bit are pleased, and that drives and helps to unify the work at the grassroots level, especially with the new generations."
The regime outlined its usual narrative during the event: a continuous line that stretches from José Martí—founder of the Cuban Revolutionary Party in 1892—to Julio Antonio Mella and Carlos Baliño—creators of the first Communist Party of Cuba in 1925—up to Castro and the single-party government that has ruled the island since 1965. The meeting also served to anticipate the centenary of Fidel Castro, on August 13, 2026, a date that the regime has made the focal point of all its celebrations this year.
At the end of the event, it was announced that the anniversary activities will include recognition for activists with "steady performance."
But while inside the halls of power slogans about "love," "strength," and continuity are echoed, outside, reality harshly strikes millions of Cubans who face endless blackouts, shortages, and despair. The contrast between the official discourse and daily life once again highlights the disconnection of a political elite that insists on celebrating its legacy while the country sinks deeper into an ever more profound crisis.
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