Havana—Cuban President Raul Castro presided over on Saturday a ceremony to commemorate the 118 anniversary of the fall in action of Independence leader Antonio Maceo and to pay homage to Cuban internationalists fighters.

Several heads of state and representatives of Caribbean countries, wo are in Havana to participate at the 5th Cuba-Caricom Summit, attended the tribute-paying ceremony at the Cacahual Mausoleum that treasures the remains of the independence hero to the west of the city capital.

Several generations of Cubans paid homage to General Maceo and to those who gave their lives for the independence of Africa.

In remarks to participants, Jamaica´s Prime Minister Portia Simpson praised the struggle waged by the Cuban people for freedom and for the independence of other nations. Simpson also stressed, on behalf of the Caribbean Community, the role of Cuba´s independence heroes.

The Jamaican premier referred to the support and cooperation offered by Cuba to other countries in need, and its regional integration efforts.

Cuban vice-president Salvador Valdes thanked the Caribbean Community for its support of Cuba in its efforts to achieve regional integration in the benefit of all. A day like today serves to reaffirm that patriotism and internationalism will exist for ever and a proof of this is the joint efforts by the Caribbean Community and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas in the fight against Ebola, Valdes said.