WORKERS gathered in Havana on Saturday vowed to continue their resistance as the United States prepares to intensify the cruel economic blockade in an attempt to destroy the Cuban Revolution. 

More than 1,200 Cubans are in the capital for the 21st Congress of the Workers’ Central Union of Cuba (CTC) along with 52 international delegates representing 30 organisations from Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

They were celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the 4.5 million-member trade union umbrella body, the largest workers’ organisation in the Caribbean.

CTC general secretary Ulises Guilarte opened the congress highlighting workers’ contribution to the development of Cuba, calling for greater involvement in the battle for economic sustainability in the face of a US-imposed economic blockade that has lasted almost 60 years.

He warned of the increased threats to the country after US President Donald Trump announced last week that Washington was set to implement the full application of Title III of the 1996 Helms-Burton Act, which would allow Cuban-Americans to sue companies that were using land expropriated following the 1959 revolution.

Mexico, China and Russia vowed to fight the latest act of US interventionism while Canada and the European Union released a joint statement branding the move a “violation of international law.”

Workers also expressed their solidarity with the people of Venezuela, who face attacks on the country’s electrical system as part of a Washington-backed coup attempt against the democratically elected President Nicolas Maduro.

Mr Guilarte said that the May 1 parade in Havana would be used as a rallying point for workers to stand against the “criminal acts” of the US against Cuba and Venezuela.