Santiago de Cuba, July 16 (ACN)-- Surveillance in the neighborhoods and the revitalization of grassroots structures were among the key issues addressed today at the Assembly of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) in Santiago de Cuba.

The meeting, held at the Provincial School of the Hermanos Marañón Party, was attended by the National Coordinator of the organization and Hero of the Republic Gerardo Hérnandez Nordelo and more than 200 delegates from neighborhoods elected in the indomitable territory.

Hérnandez Nordelo commented that the priority in these times is the community vigilance, which implies, more than the cederista guard, the protection of the neighborhoods against robberies and domestic violence, the care of vulnerable groups, children and the elderly against criminal acts.   He expressed the need for a safe society, with low crime rates and zero tolerance to drugs, specifically, and made a call for attention and recognition to the 39 Mirando al mar detachments in the province.

Yarisel Martínez, representative of one of these detachments located in the coastal municipality of Guamá, said that during the last year 41 illegalities were controlled, several related to drug trafficking, drug planting and attempts to illegally leave the country.

Joel Paz, provincial coordinator of the CDR, in charge of the central words, highlighted the achievements of the mass organization on the eve of its X Congress, such as the preventive activities in the face of attacks to centers of economic relevance and the debate with families for the redirection of the approach in the confrontation of social and family problems.

It also meant the fulfillment of the contribution to the contribution, the main source of income with 63.9 percent in the last year and with greater collection of the special contribution.

Regarding the recovery of raw materials, voluntary blood donations, the strengthening of ties with the youth as active members and the care of the Maternal and Child Program (PAMI), the official regretted a setback compared to previous stages.

Yudelkis Ortiz, member of the Provincial Bureau of the Communist Party Cuba, said in closing that the CDRs bring together all sectors of Cuban society, with direct response to the people and other mass organizations, hence its historical and practical importance.

During the meeting were elected 34 representatives to the National Assembly X Congress of the CDR and the new provincial secretariat, ratifying Joel Paz as coordinator in Santiago de Cuba.