Cuba today evokes the legacy of Commander of the Revolution Juan Almeida Bosque, assailant of the Moncada barracks, combatant of the Rebel Army, outstanding leader of the Party and government in the socialist construction in Cuba and author of a prolific musical and literary work.

On the occasion of the 16th anniversary of his death, Roberto Morales Ojeda, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of Organisation of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), wrote on X that Almeida “will always be in our hearts and in the eternal conviction that here no one surrenders nor will anyone surrender”.

Manuel Marrero, Prime Minister, recalled on the same social network the Commander of the Revolution and pointed out that, as Raúl said, he fulfilled each task “with proverbial loyalty, efficacy and spirit of sacrifice”.

“In the midst of a very complex context, we ratify that here no one surrenders,” added the premier, referring to Almeida’s attitude at Alegría de Pío (1956), facing the enemy’s call to surrender after the first armed confrontation of the nascent Rebel Army.

Almeida had previously participated in the assault on the Moncada barracks (26th July 1953), an action for which he was imprisoned, and after his exile in Mexico, he departed on the yacht Granma towards the east of Cuba along with 81 other expeditionaries, to begin the guerrilla war against the tyranny of Fulgencio Batista.

In that period he earned the rank of Commander and founded and led the Third Front Mario Muñoz, which covered some six thousand square kilometres.

After the triumph of the Revolution (1959) Almeida held numerous responsibilities as a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the PCC since its foundation in 1965, vice president of the Council of State and president of the Association of Combatants.

Besides his revolutionary work, he had a prolific artistic output, which includes more than 300 musical pieces and nine books.