BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH Venezuela’s representative to Guyana, Ambassador Reina Diaz calling for their English-speaking neighbours and CARICOM member states to assist in a peaceful dialogue on the ongoing violence there, the Federation’s political leader said his Government is fully supportive of democracy working well in the Spanish-speaking country.
The South American nation is being plagued by hyperinflation due to a recent drop in oil prices and infighting over the last year which is allegedly being fuelled by the opposition party that is calling for President Nicolas Maduro’s resignation.
But Maduro, who took the reins of power from the late Hugo Chavez, is adamant that he would not demit office.
Questioned by SKNVibes at his recent press conference on whom the Federation supports, knowing that Maduro is being described as a dictator and that the opposition is fuelling protest that could see the continuation of violence in that country, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris declared that St. Kitts and Nevis does not take sides in such matters.
“With respect to Venezuela, the Government doesn’t choose sides in domestic matters. The Government relates with other governments. The Government or the people of St. Kitts and Nevis through their Government have established diplomatic ties with Venezuela. They are a very good friend of St. Kitts and Nevis. We abide by international rules and principles and some of those principles would be - we respect the sovereignty of each country; we respect the right of a member state, for example, within the OAS or CARICOM, to make determinations with regard to its own affairs.”
Dr. Harris pledged to support a working democracy in that country and others with which the Federation has diplomatic relations.
“We, of course, would be fully supportive of efforts to ensure that the democracy is working well in Venezuela as it should work in all member states of CARICOM and OAS. We would wish that both government and opposition in Venezuela could come together and do what is best for the people of Venezuela, restore the peace, restore the calm and allow the country to move on a constructive path of prosperity and development.”
He continued, “That would be our wish for the people of Venezuela, as it would be our wish for the people everywhere that democracy prevails, that the country moves on a pathway to prosperity improving the quality of life for all of our people.”
The Spanish-speaking South American nation has been very supportive of the Federation and other CARICOM nations, including Guyana with which they have an ongoing border issue.
That matter is currently before the United Nation’s Good Office for a final determination on the way forward, and a decision is likely by the end of 2017.
Meanwhile, the people and government of Venezuela have been very generous to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
They gave the Team Unity Government $16M to assist in the payments to former sugars workers and also a loan to aid small business development.
Dr. Harris reiterated that his Government is not taking any position on the matter.
“So, we neither siding with opposition nor with the government; we have to be an independent observer. And while we have strong diplomatic ties and friendship with the government of Venezuela, we will, where possibly, give our friendly advice as to how we see ourselves contributing and supporting the efforts for the restoration of democracy in any country and help the country to restore itself to a position of calm.”
The crisis plaguing Venezuela was one of the topics up for discussion at the recently held OECS meeting in St. Vincent, and, according to PM Harris, “We did say that we were prepared to avail ourselves of any opportunity to intervene in a constructive way with the government and opposition in the best interest of the people of Venezuela.”
