Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel marked the 65th anniversary of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) with a social media tribute, emphasizing the institution’s transformative role in the nation’s history. “January 5, 1959, witnessed the end of abusive practices by the dictatorship’s police forces,” Diaz-Canel stated, “ushering in a new law enforcement body dedicated to serving the people and their Revolutionary ideals.
The commemorations continued with National Assembly President Esteban Lazo honoring PNR members as “true Heroes in Blue” who perform daily feats in safeguarding public security and tranquility. Roberto Morales, Organization Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee, echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the “commendable work” of the police force in a widely shared congratulatory message.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero provided historical context, noting the PNR’s origins in the Rebel Army under the initiative of then-Commander Raúl Castro. “The PNR remains an impregnable bastion defending public order and tranquility,” Marrero affirmed.
The establishment of the PNR in 1959 represented a conscious effort to create an exemplary institution that would erase the legacy of repression, abuse, and corruption associated with Fulgencio Batista’s dictatorship (1952-1958). Today, the force maintains its fundamental mission of preserving public order, ensuring citizen safety, and regulating road security throughout Cuba.”