Latin America
Maintains Strict Safety Measures Amid H1N1 Outbreak
Latin American
Countries Celebrated
May Day
Chilean Workers For
New Constitution
Ex US President
Carter in Bolivia
Latin American
Countries Celebrated
May Day
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.
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