Cubans celebrated May 1 on Friday four days late due to weather conditions and with much less pomp than usual in the context of fuel shortages, AFP and Reuters reported, citing Agerpres.

Typically, tens of thousands of Cubans bussed in from all over the capital to gather at the iconic Revolution Square in downtown Havana before the parade begins.

This time, the residents of the center were invited to come to the rally on the Malecon esplanade on foot, and a number of other events were organized in other neighborhoods.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel, accompanied by his wife Lis Cuesta, walked to the famous boulevard as a sign of “popular confirmation”. Former leader Raul Castro also took part in the meeting.

“This change of location is in line with current fuel supply restrictions,” CTC general secretary Ulises Guillarte de Nascimento stressed during the demonstration.

According to state media, 100,000 Cubans had already gathered on the Malecon esplanade on Friday morning. Many of them, dressed in white, red and blue T-shirts, waving flags and posters of Fidel Castro, arrived before sunrise for the event, scheduled for 07:00 am.

Cuba is facing its worst economic crisis in 30 years, a combination of the effects of the pandemic, increased US sanctions and internal structural weaknesses – a situation that has translated into persistent shortages of food, medicine and fuel, exacerbated by galloping inflation. Since the end of March, the shortage of fuel continues to worsen, which has direct consequences for the economic and social life of the country.