Havana, Mar 9 (Prensa Latina) Cuba’s main labor organization today called for a nationwide celebration of May Day, International Workers’ Day.

The main celebration, according to the call of the Cuban Workers’ Union (CTC), will be in the Plaza de la Revolución José Martí, in Havana, with the motto “For Cuba, together we create.”

“We will reaffirm our firm conviction that the unity of the people, unconditional resistance and the will to perfect the common work will always be guarantees of victory,” the text states.

The call was presented this Sunday after voluntary work in the western province of Mayabeque, harvesting potatoes.

“Today, the country faces the growing hostility of an increasingly aggressive and arrogant empire, determined to ensure the prevalence of new neocolonial, fascist and terrorist expressions,” he said.

In response to these acts that violate international law, he added, “the workers, together with the people, maintain the unwavering decision to be faithful to the legacy of the heroes of the Cuban nation.”

He also urged “to continue the battle that successive generations of workers, peasants and students have waged to achieve freedom, independence and social justice.”

“In this challenging and complex context, of such great importance for the nation and humanity, the CTC and its unions call for a day of mobilization to celebrate International Workers’ Day on May 1,” he reiterated.

With the contribution of everyone, especially the workers, he says, “we will advance in the programs that support the socioeconomic transformation and development of the country.”

It also states that “it is essential to maximize the productive reserves that we have in each sector and job position; to consolidate the powers granted to the Socialist State Enterprise and its linkage with the non-state sector.”

The celebration of May Day, he says, is framed within transcendental commemorations.

Among them, the 130th anniversary of the “beginning of the Necessary War led by our National Hero José Martí on February 24, 1895” and the “86th anniversary of the founding of the CTC” stand out.

“It will also be a special moment to pay tribute to our Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz,” he said.

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Washington, Mar 9 (Prensa Latina) Activists from the Los Angeles Hands Off Cuba Committee (Lahoc) reiterated their demand that the United States government lift the economic blockade that is causing so much harm to the Cuban people.

According to a statement sent to Prensa Latina, members of Lahoc raised their voices at a women’s march in which more than 35,000 people participated in that city of California, on March 8, on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

Among the requests of the attendees, a predominantly female and young crowd that came out to defend abortion amid the current conservative policies of the Donald Trump administration, those in solidarity with Cuba reiterated the need to eliminate not only the economic but also the financial and commercial blockade that is trying to suffocate the island.

The text indicated that they also placed a table with informational material and a giant banner that read: “Let’s end the United States blockade of Cuba, let’s remove Cuba from the SSOT list (acronym in English for State Sponsors of Terrorism).”

During the march, the Lahoc team distributed 1,500 copies of a flyer titled “Women in Cuba: Revolution within the Revolution” that explains the achievements of women since 1959 and the new Family Code.

The young activists also sold books and buttons and registered for the delegation that will travel to the May Day activities on the island.

A significant part of the demonstration was a contingent of 500 workers from the Service Employees International Union, as well as groups of high school and university students, teachers, Palestinian and First Nations activists, and others.

Also in attendance were members of the National Organization for Women and the National Abortion Rights Action League.

“There were thousands of signs at the peaceful protest, all of which focused on defending women’s right to control their bodies and against Trump,” said Mark Friedman, a member of the International Association of Machinists.

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Artemisa, Cuba, 7 mar (Prensa Latina) El presidente cubano, Miguel Díaz-Canel constató hoy aquí el progreso de programas económicos y sociales de esta occidental provincia como parte de sus recorridos por municipios del país, informó el noticiero de la televisión nacional.

El mandatario visitó los territorios de Guanajay, Alquízar y Candelaria, acompañado por el integrante del Buró Político y secretario de Organización del Partido Comunista, Roberto morales Ojeda.

En Guanajay, Díaz-Canel llegó a la Empresa Productora de Ómnibus, “Evelio Prieto Guillama”, entidad que prevé reparar un centenar de estos vehículos para el servicio urbano en la capital cubana, gracias a un donativo de la República Popular China.

De acuerdo con la fuente estos medios de transporte, rígidos y articulados, estarán listos para finales del presente año.

El mandatario conoció en esa entidad sobre otros proyectos de desarrollo en el transporte ferroviario, triciclos eléctricos y ensamblaje de ciclomotores, lo que se realiza encontrando alternativas a los problemas que se presentan.

Más adelante, el jefe de Estado visitó el barrio “la Taconera», que experimenta un proceso de transformación y mejoría de su infraestructura para beneficio de sus habitantes. Asimismo arribó al polo productivo «Primero de Enero” que dispone de 54 hectáreas para cultivos varios.

Por su parte en Alquízar,

Díaz-Canel dialogó con directivos y trabajadores de la Empresa Agropecuaria Municipal donde constató el avance en la entrega de tierras en usufructos para elevar la producción de viandas y vegetales en ese territorio.

En ese sitio el presidente cubano fue informado sobre el inicio este viernes de la cosecha de papa con la que se planea abastecer a la capital y la provincia.

Al término de su recorrido, el presidente de la República visitó en Candelaria entre otros lugares la finca ganadera de Yoandrys González con resultados en la cría de ganado mayor, porcino, equino y aves.

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Washington, Mar 6 (Prensa Latina) The United States government decided today to cancel programs used for its so-called “promotion of democracy” in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, but in reality it will leave those objectives that have accompanied its foreign policy for years orphaned.

According to information released on Thursday, the measure is the result of a review by the State Department which concluded that the projects did not respond to the “national interest” of the United States.

Among those included in the cuts are the International Republican Institute (IRI), which lost most of its programs funded by the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as well as the National Democratic Institute.

The so-called independent press in Cuba has also received a coup de grace, as the Trump administration has called certain aid programs unnecessary, including a $1.5 million subsidy from the American taxpayer’s pocket, supposedly intended to strengthen journalism on the island.

During a Senate hearing Wednesday examining the advancement of U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere, Florida Sen. Rick Scott invoked some current views on foreign aid among Trump administration officials.

It turns out that they are asking how the money spent on programs in the countries mentioned above that are primarily aimed at regime change can be justified if in the end it is not achieved.

Scott admitted that he cannot get “excited” about the funds spent on “foreign aid because something could happen” (the change that never came). Although he said it in different words, at the end of the day the governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua are still standing.

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