The province of Ciego de Ávila was the vanguard in the emulation of the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution (CDR) for sustained and integrative work, it was learned today at a press conference headed by Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, coordinator of the mass organisation.

Julia Durruthy Molina, national vice-coordinator of the CDRs, explained that alongside the central territory they selected Santiago de Cuba, Las Tunas and Matanzas as outstanding provinces, and the municipalities of Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba and the Isle of Youth stood out among the 36 distinguished in the country.

The directive reported that, on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the founding of the CDRs, recognitions will be given to outstanding CDR members, base organisations, the well-known Neighbourhood Prize and the 28th September distinction across the entire country, as well as the medal for the defence of the Homeland and neighbourhood unity.

Hernández Nordelo highlighted that today’s Cuba is different from that of 65 years ago, when Commander in Chief Fidel Castro founded the organisation; but the essence is the same, they have traditional tasks such as revolutionary vigilance in its various modalities, the recovery of raw materials and others.

This celebration is dedicated to Fidel within the programme for his centenary, the architect of the birth of the CDRs on 28th September 1960, during a speech on the balcony of the then Presidential Palace, in Havana.

The Hero of the Republic of Cuba emphasised the need for each community to define its objectives and organise its own guard system, as conditions vary from one place to another, vigilance is seen as a continuous and crucial task for the progressive protection of the neighbourhood and to prevent the appearance of problems when security is neglected.

In one of his addresses, the national coordinator of the country’s largest mass organisation referred to the difficult context in which they reach 65 years, the challenges they face such as organisational problems and changes in the community’s needs.

He said that despite the challenges they seek to modernise and adapt the work to new circumstances, including the fight against drug consumption, a phenomenon alien to the time of the foundation; he highlighted the solidarity and community support and the active role of the CDRs in caring for vulnerable people.

At the press conference, they announced some of the most important activities for the anniversary, such as a giant casino wheel across the entire country, days of vigilance, blood donations, the decorations for the distinguished and the celebration of the national central act, on the coming 28th at the very site of its birth.