The government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday says it has “a deep sense of unease and apprehension” about recent developments in Venezuela, including the marches sponsored by opposing political forces the previous day in Caracas, which “can promote civil unrest within the country”.
Kingstown said in a statement that it is “dismayed at the provocative actions by the National Assembly President, Mr. Juan Guaido, which serves to destabilise severely order and the rule of law” within Venezuela.
“Further, the act by several governments within the hemisphere to recognise Juan Guaido as Interim President of Venezuela goes against the fundamental principle of non-interference into the internal affairs of a sovereign state which is established within the Organization of American States (OAS) Charter, the Inter-American Democratic Charter and the United Nations Charter,” the statement said.
Aljazeera has reported that the United States, Canada and major South American nations on Wednesday recognised Guaido, the head of Venezuela’s opposition-controlled legislature, as the country’s interim leader, leaving President Nicolas Maduro increasingly isolated.
Major regional players Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Argentina all gave their backing to Guaido’s self-proclamation as Venezuela’s acting president, which he made in front of crowd of tens of thousands of supporters in Caracas, the international media outlet said.
Russia and China are among the countries that have reaffirm support for Maduro
The EU stopped short of explicitly supporting Guaidó but called for elections in Venezuela and backed the national assembly that he heads as the “elected institution whose powers need to be restored and respected”.
On Thursday, SVG reaffirmed its recognition of Maduro as the constitutionally elected president of Venezuela and his inaugurated for a second term on Jan. 10.
“In order to maintain the democratic fabric of the Venezuelan society, the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines urges both the Government and Parliamentary opposition to engage in meaningful dialogue inclusive of civil society and the business community without recourse to any action which can further erode the rule of law and lead to violence and civil unrest.
“The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines calls on all Member States of the OAS to respect the sovereignty of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the legitimacy and legality of its government headed by President Maduro, and to promote an environment of peace and dialogue with a view to maintaining regional and hemispheric order for the peaceful co-existence among states.
“The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines remains fully supportive of efforts to resolve through peaceful means, the current challenges and problems in Venezuela. The engendering of violence will not aid any necessary and desirable political solution. We call on all parties to accord full respect to the rule of law, inclusive of the promotion of peace, order, and good governance,” the statements said.
Meanwhile, CARICOM heads of government from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago; Foreign Ministers of Grenada and Suriname met via video conference on Thursday.
After the talks, the regional bloc said it heads of government “are following closely the current unsatisfactory situation” in Venezuela, which the statement noted is a neighbouring Caribbean country.
A statement said that the heads of government “expressed grave concern about the plight of the people of Venezuela and the increasing volatility of the situation brought about by recent developments which could lead to further violence, confrontation, breakdown of law and order and greater suffering for the people of the country”.
The regional leaders “reaffirmed their guiding principles of non-interference and non-intervention in the affairs of states, respect for sovereignty, adherence to the rule of law, and respect for human rights and democracy”.
They also “reiterated that the long-standing political crisis, which has been exacerbated by recent events, can only be resolved peacefully through meaningful dialogue and diplomacy.
“In this regard, Heads of Government offered their good offices to facilitate dialogue among all parties to resolve the deepening crisis.”
The statement further said:
“Reaffirming their commitment to the tenets of Article 2 (4) of the United Nations Charter which calls for Members States to refrain from the threat or the use of force and Article 21 of the Charter of the Organization of American States which refers to territorial inviolability, the Heads of Government emphasized the importance of the Caribbean remaining a Zone of Peace.
“Heads of Government called on external forces to refrain from doing anything to destabilize the situation and underscored the need to step back from the brink and called on all actors, internal and external, to avoid actions which would escalate an already explosive situation to the detriment of the people of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and which could have far-reaching negative consequences for the wider region.
“Heads of Government agreed that the Chairman of Conference, Dr the Honourable Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis would seek an urgent meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General to request the U.N’s assistance in resolving the issue.”
We, as a country and people, should be dismayed by our current regime’s support of the corrupt, thuggish, and incompetent socialist government in Venezuela, support which is isolating us from our traditional friends, patrons, and allies: the United States, Canada, and Great Britain.
You sir is a Jack**s. Just another hateful keyboard warrior. Do you even know what the word regime means? America, GB and Canada are allies? Boy if you don’t go and sit down na! Don’t ever disrespect my country like that again. Sheep!!
Yes, Venezuela has a corrupt government; but so does the US and the others you mentioned. You are more accurate when you say Venezuela has an incompetent government. Although most governments in the world are financially incompetent, as well as Saint Vincent, Venezuela may be the most financially incompetent government there is. It is quite an accomplishment to govern a nation known as the most resource rich country on earth and nevertheless be one of the poorest.
There is an opinion that the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, like that of Maduro’s Venezuela and their counterpart in Nicaragua, lacks authoritative legitimacy. These family run dictatorships do support one another, however, when fair and open elections are held, their credibility are shown to be what they truly are, oppressive regimes that their public are only too glad to rid themselves of.
See how long we here in SVG have been waiting for a Court review of our 2015 questionable election poll. A poll that was marred by accusation of much cash and material giveaway and outright Ballot rigging.
But as “Trump warn that All options are on the table” to force Maduro out of power, Maduro find friends in the usual places much as to be expected in China, Russia, SVG, Turkey. And what do all these have in common we may well ask?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6631257/Trump-warns-options-table-force-Venezuelas-President-Maduro-power.html
We note that “Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has given Guaido his endorsement but stopped just short of recognising him as the new President, while Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said last year’s Venezuelan elections were ‘neither free nor fair”.
There are now two declared Presidents of Venezuela. So as the Venezuelan Military now openly warns of a pending Civil War, we may well ask will the Ralph Gonsalves family’s Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines be sending men and material to support their man Maduro?
I agree
I totally agree with this previous comment. Misplaced support which places SVG on the wrong side of history.
The Prime Minister stands with Venezuela not the masses of Vincentians or perhaps at the least his supporters. That’s what happens when you accept gifts from a foreign country? They say who pays the piper calls the tune.
We would never be able to win a seat at the UN Security Council with such stance. Kingstown’s position on Venezuela would have serious implications for the masses of Vincentians, especially as it relates to capital inflows and de-risking. The challenges being experienced with money transfers is just the tip of the iceberg.
We must be a principled country that stands against all forms of human indignity whether it’s comes from our friends or foe. The only plausible alternative for Venezuela is regime change. A United States led invasion is the only alternative to bring a state of normalcy and prosperity to the Venezuelan people.
The government of SVG is supporting the nasty and incompetent government of Venezuela, not with either the people of Venezuela or the people of SVG.
The caption should really be: “Ralph Gonsalves stands with Venezuela’s Maduro.” What kind of propaganda newspaper is this? A ULP one. You are really trying very hard to insult our intelligence. Half of the main Island population don’t even know what is going on in the Grenadines and much less in Venezuela. What is wrong with you people? Wake up already.
Who do you think is smarter Donald Trump, Theresa May, Justin Trudeau or Ralph ” DREGS” Gonsalves? Do folks in little SVG actually know what is taking place in Venezuela?
Would these guys still be grinning their face off if the shooting starts? And will Venezuela be another Panama or another Ukraine? Will Maduro find a safe haven in St Vincent and the Grenadines or in Russia if evicted?
These are some of the questions some are now asking if the ongoing reports are correct; What are the game plans of the Trump administration? Could this be the Central America and the Caribbean Syria?
“Russia sends ‘around 400’ mercenaries to Venezuela to protect President Maduro as US diplomats and their families flee the country”.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6631257/Trump-warns-options-table-force-Venezuelas-President-Maduro-power.html
“US diplomats are heading to the airport in Caracas amid reports of the arrival of 400 Russian mercenaries flown in to support President Nicolas Maduro against an opposition leader who wants to replace him”.
What too are the questions on Ralph Gonsalves mind as Maduro readies himself for the end game? Could the Ralph Gonsalves family find themselves in similar situation, once free and fair elections are held in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and that FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL is finally enacted to the delight of the long-suffering Vincentian people? Questions, questions, questions.
NDP should maybe try to make Vincy become part of the US,Canad or the US..ti me it makes total sense..they should make something like that their campaign theme..just might work
Nobody would want to incorporate a basket-case country like SVG.
Chavez, then Maduro used Venezuela oil to enhance their image abroad. It worked.
It is working but Maduro is not going to survive this.
Ask the Prime Minister what is, not why is, simply a number, not a 90-minute defense, the current rate of inflation in Venezuela. We already know the why is, thank you.
Unless you have another 90 minutes, don’t bother asking him why 3 million Venezuelans, so far, have fled, are fleeing Maduro.
We know why for that, too.