Kingston, 25 July 2025. Convened by the Cuban state mission in Jamaica, the Movement of Solidarity with Cuba and the Association of Cubans Residing in Jamaica (ACRJ), a ceremony was held on the afternoon of 25 July to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks.
The event was attended by representatives of the Left Alliance for Democracy and Socialism (LANDS), the Marcus Garvey People's Political Party, the Pan-African People's Party and the Jamaican Peace Council (JPC). Students who graduated in Cuba and representatives of the media also participated.
In a ceremony marked by a heartfelt tribute to the heroes and martyrs of these events, Osvaldo Cárdenas Junquera, historian and president of the ACRJ, recalled the actions of 26 July and highlighted their valuable lessons, which remain relevant today.
On behalf of the Cuban collaborators working in Jamaica, Idalis Figueredo Maldonado reiterated the commitment of the cooperators to contribute to the well-being of the Jamaican people with the confidence, security and dignity that characterises our people, as faithful followers of the leaders of Moncada.
For their part, Trevor Brown and Lorenzo Gordon, executives of the Jamaica-Cuba Friendship Association, reaffirmed their permanent solidarity with ‘the land of Martí, Maceo, Fidel, Raúl, Díaz-Canel and millions of Cubans who choose dignity over submission’; while Neville Graham, on behalf of the Association of Graduates in Cuba, highlighted the enduring example of the Cuban Revolution led by Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.
The Ambassador of Cuba to Jamaica, Fermín Quiñones Sánchez, in his remarks to those present, highlighted the legacy of the Generation of the Centenary in the history of our country. He also reaffirmed the will of the Cuban people to resist the adversities imposed by the genocidal policy of the blockade by the US government and the permanence of our country on the spurious list of states that sponsor terrorism. He stressed that, despite the difficulties, Cuba will continue its solidarity work in Jamaica and around the world.
As part of the celebration, the poem ‘Ya estamos en combate’ (We are already in combat) was recited and traditional Cuban music was enjoyed.