HAVANA – The Third Plenary Session of the National Committee of Cuba’s Union of Young Communists (UJC) convened to deliberate on the pivotal role of youth in navigating the nation’s pressing challenges and advancing the Government Program. The assembly emphasized youth mobilization as essential to Cuba’s strategic development objectives.
Dr. Roberto Morales Ojeda, a senior member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, articulated the Party’s unwavering confidence in young Cubans. He declared that the younger generation must spearhead efforts to consolidate and refine the national project through broad civic participation.
The meeting identified three core missions for youth engagement: economic development, national unity, and the pursuit of regional peace. Dr. Morales Ojeda specifically highlighted threats against Venezuela, echoing the historic commitment of former leader Fidel Castro by stating, “For Venezuela, we will have to give everything,” thus reaffirming Cuba’s unconditional solidarity.
Addressing Cuba’s economic constraints under what he described as a “war economy,” Dr. Morales Ojeda stressed the critical need to prioritize foreign exchange earnings. This approach is deemed vital for resolving severe infrastructural crises, including chronic failures in the National Electric System and acute fuel shortages.
The session also confronted severe deficits in domestic food production, particularly rice, beans, and sugar. Officials advocated for a comprehensive revitalization of the sugarcane industry and urged increased local manufacturing to reduce import dependencies and secure stable supplies for the basic food basket.