Diaz-Canel checks preparations for Havana's 500th anniversary

The President of the Cuban Council of State and Ministers, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, reviewed the progress of the program to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Villa de San Cristobal in Havana.

Granma newspaper reads that in order to reach that anniversary, to be held on November 16, 2019, the Cuban government has designed an extensive program that covers the 15 municipalities of the province to have a more beautiful and orderly city.

Aimed fundamentally at the economic and social development of the city, as well as at strengthening its identity, the knowledge of its history and the love of its inhabitants, the program began in 2017 and since then, different works of high social impact have been carried out that have solved part of the problems accumulated over the years in the communities and neighborhoods of Havana.

This and other issues were recently analyzed in a meeting headed by Diaz-canel, with the Government Group to support the capital, created in 2012 by agreement of the Council of Ministers and currently chaired by the Vice President of the Council of Ministers and head of Economy and Planning, Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, to support the implementation of economic and social activities that correspond to entities located in the province of Havana.

Reynaldo García Zapata, president of the Provincial Assembly of the People's Power, summarized the tasks that the government group is currently undertaking, including the importation of parts for the repair of elevators and garbage collection cars; the replacement and maintenance of equipment in children's parks; the installation of LED lights in city parks; and the incorporation of trucks with modern technology for the repair of roads.

Specifically on the collection of solid waste, García Zapata reported that the capital needs about 12,000 containers, of which some 7,000 are domestically produced and the rest are in the process of being imported, which would alleviate the sensitive issue of garbage in Havana. At this point a call was made for increased care of these deposits.

Later, he made a detailed presentation of the program for the half-millennium of the city, whose fundamental premise is to involve the population into these rehabilitation activities.

The celebration," he said, "is not exclusive to the Havana people, because this is the capital of all Cubans.

He listed the works in which work has been carried out such as hospitals, museums, educational centers, sports institutions, housing, parks, cemeteries, funeral homes, cultural centers, gastronomic establishments, bus stops, agricultural markets, social circles, libraries, as well as the repair of hydraulic and road systems.

He stressed that the revival of the city will continue, with priority given to the approaches derived from the delegate's accountability processes to the voters. In addition, he said that the government entities have to ensure the image of their establishments in the main arteries of the city, to transform them and achieve the beauty that is up to the event.

Likewise, he insisted that the improvement of facilities must go hand in hand with quality and good treatment in the services provided to the population.

In this sense, Cabrisas Ruiz reiterated the need for Havana residents and visitors to the city to take care of the environment. At the same time, it is necessary to include in the plans of the entities the maintenance of the works so as not to go backwards in what is being done with great effort to beautify Havana.

Mercedes Lopez Acea, first secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Party, said that the works being carried out are aimed at solving sensitive problems of the population, which in many cases is added to voluntary work to complete them.

She also highlighted the motivation and commitment shown by the university students of the capital, who have made magnificent proposals to enrich the program for the 500th anniversary.

Meanwhile, Diaz-Canel emphasized that this action is materializing the priority proposed by Army General Raul Castro Ruz, that there should be a government plan directed at the capital, because its problems go beyond the provincial level and must be solved with the help of all the central government agencies.

He pointed out that this should become a permanent working method and not only because of the proximity of the anniversary of the city.

He called on those present to clearly identify those activities where the participation of the population is essential, which would further engage Havana's people in the revitalization of their city.

We have good reason to be motivated to work for the 500th anniversary of Havana, he concluded.