Cuba’s Largest Grassroots Organization Marks 63 Birthday

Havana, Aug 24 (ACN) Cuba’s Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) founded by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution in 1960 are marking their 63rd birthday in September with their 10th Congress and a large program of activities.

Celebrations will include an international solidarity forum, a meeting of the Continental Front of Community Organizations, plus the acknowledgement of outstanding organization members, families and labor collectives.

CDR National Coordinator Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo, who bears the title of Hero of the Republic of Cuba, told reporters in Havana that the organization’s priorities include its social and preventive mission in society, people’s revolutionary surveillance and the work with children and youths.

Hernandez noted that the main mission of the grassroots organization is the defense of the Cuban Revolution, which suggests adapting the role of the CDRs to the current conditions facing the country, particularly in neighborhoods.

At present the CDRs count on nearly 138 thousand neighborhood or block organizations, which played a valuable role under the COVID-19 pandemic, the coordinator said.

The National Congress to take place September 26-28 at Havana’s Conventions Center will be attended by over 400 delegates and 120 guests, he announced.

The organization’s cadre policy, the attention to economic tasks, ideological work and attention to children, adolescents and youths, as well as revolutionary and preventive work will be top issues for debate during the Congress.

Fidel Castro set up the neighbors’ organization in the early years of the Revolution as a people’s front of surveillance and response against terrorist attacks against the emerging Cuban socialist state.