www.chinaview.cn 2009-05-02 10:54:40

by Alejandra del Palacio

MEXICO CITY, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Latin Americans held marches, rallies and other events on Friday to mark the May Day, during which workers also expressed their demand and concerns.

In Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, thousands of workers marched to the city center near the Miraflores Palace, headquarters of the Venezuelan government, from three separate locations.

During the march followers of President Hugo Chavez shouted "we are majority, we are joyous."

Meanwhile members of unions and followers of opposition parties clashed with police as they converged in central Caracas and tried to enter the National Assembly. Police used water cannon and teargas to disperse protesters.

In Panama, unions celebrated May Day with marches and rallies in the historic Cinco de Mayo Square in Panama City.

During the events, workers demand salary increase, freedom of unions, better working condition and called for a constitutive process for Panama's May 3 elections.

The Single Workers union of Construction and Similar (Suntracs) urged the Panamanian government to raise the workers' salaries.

Cuban leader Raul Castro, along with more than 2,000 friends of Cuba from 70 countries and 200 unions across the world, attended the May Day celebration with a slogan "united, productive and efficient" in Revolution Square in Havana.

General Secretary from the Workers Central of Cuba (CTC) Salvador Valdes Mesa reaffirmed Cuban workers' support for the Socialism under the leadership of Cuban former leader Fidel Castro and leader Raul Castro.

Meanwhile, a traditional parade, led by professors, students as well as health care workers, which are considered important parts of the Cuban Revolution, was held.

In Honduras, thousands of workers shouted "Entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs pay a good salary", "people want to talk, let's hold a people's consultation" during a march to celebrate the May Day. The workers also demanded more safety and price cuts in basic products.

In Uruguay, the single workers Union (PIT-CNT) called for unity of the Latin American people and governments in order to tide over the global economic crisis.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said one of the challenges for her government is to create more jobs amid the world economic crisis at a May Day breakfast with a group of "home advisors" in the Santa Zita foundation.