Calimete, December 23 (RHC-Granma) -— José Ramón Machado Ventura, Second Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Council of State vice president, stated on a visit to the province that the start of the Matanzas’ sugar harvest offers encouraging prospects in comparison with other years.

We have noted more effort, organization and control over the problems in each mill, although there are still many things to accomplish and perfect, he said. Machado Ventura noted that this positive start has confirmed the quality of investments and repairs as well as the determination of the Matanzas' sugar workers to eliminate shortcomings identified in previous harvests.

He drew particular attention to the training of workers and managers in the sector, the results of which can already been seen, in these first days of the harvest. On a visit to the Jesús Rabí, René Fraga and Mario Muñoz sugar mills, (the México mill is also set to begin milling very soon), Machado Ventura indicated that steady and efficient processing is necessary right from the beginning, with strict supervision to avoid technological and labor missteps and to further motivate workers.

He added that in order to compensate for the investments made and increase wages, it was necessary to re-establish the work ethic evident today in the sugar mills, increase sugarcane yields, and improve efficiency in the manufacturing process.

During the visit, Machado Ventura was accompanied by Teresa Rojas Monzón, first secretary of the Party in Matanzas, and Tania León Silveira, president of the Provincial Assembly of People's Power, as well as other local leaders.