Havana - The general secretary of the Cuban Workers'' Confederation (CTC), Ulises Guilarte, demanded on Tuesday, on behalf of the organization, an end to the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade.

In his speech at Havana's Revolution Square on the occasion of the International Workers' Day, Guilarte condemned the economic siege that the U.S. government has imposed on Cuba for more than five decades.

We demand an end to the genocidal blockade imposed on Cuba, said the union leader, who also condemned the worsening of Washington's hostile policy toward Havana since President Donald Trump took office.

Guilarte also demanded that the United States return the territory illegally occupied by the naval base in Guantanamo, in eastern Cuba, against the will of the people and the government.

A detention center, which opened in 2002 and had about 800 inmates (only 41 prisoners remained there) is designated by international organizations as a place where torture and systematic human rights violations are committed.

Presided over by the Cuban leader Raul Castro and President Miguel Diaz-Canel, the parade on the International Workers' Day in Havana brought together hundreds of thousands of Cubans from several generations.

Millions of Cubans also gathered in the capitals of all 15 Cuban provinces to ratify their commitment to defending the Revolution and socialism.