Cuba marks Int'l Workers Day with massive May Day parades

Cubans turned out by the hundreds of thousands on Monday to march in May Day parades, celebrating International Workers' Day.

In the capital Havana's Revolutionary Square, President Raul Castro, accompanied by General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions George Mavrikos, presided over the day's ceremony.

Also attending were more than 1,600 representatives of 349 trade union organizations from 86 countries.

The first May Day celebration following the death of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro in last November at the age of 90, featured banners, photos and placards paying tribute to the late statesman.

In a brief speech, General Secretary of the Central Union of Cuban Workers (CTC) Ulises Guilarte said the rallies reflected "the enduring memory of our beloved, unforgettable and undefeated Commander-in-Chief, Fidel Castro."

Guilarte also reiterated two of Cuba's longtime demands, including the lifting of the U.S.-led trade embargo and the withdrawal of the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo, on the island's southeast tip.

Regarding Cuba's ties with the United States, the CTC secretary general affirmed that Havana will not make concessions that would infringe on its independence and sovereignty.

The end of his speech marked the start of a colorful parade of some 50,000 Cuban youth marching behind a banner that read: "Unity is our strength."

The events in Havana were televised live nationwide, with simultaneous coverage of the celebrations in Santiago de Cuba, the island's second-largest city.

As part of May Day celebrations, Tuesday will see local and foreign union leaders gather at Havana's convention center to discuss the negative impacts of neoliberal policies on the working class. Enditem