Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 11, 2015 (SKNIS)—The Honourable Ian Patches Liburd, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Posts, Urban Development and Transport, says he is confident that Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris has the ability to use diplomacy to convince the Democratic Unity opposition coalition, who recently won control of the National Assembly in Venezuela, that the social and economic policies that were initiated with St. Kitts and Nevis by former President Hugo Chavez and upheld by President Nicolas Maduro should continue between the two countries.
Speaking as the special guest on the Government’s radio and television programme, "Working for You" on December 9, Minister Liburd admitted that it is too "early to predict" what if any effect, the December 6th election results would have on these policies.
The Democratic Unity opposition coalition won a key two-thirds majority in the National Assembly of Venezuela, taking 112 out of 167 seats and trouncing the Socialist Party of President Nicolas Maduro, which got 55 seats. It is the first loss of socialist rule in Venezuela in 17 years, thereby dramatically strengthening the hand of democratic rule.
Minister Liburd said that whether the socialist policies and other policies of President Maduro’s socialist party continue remains to be seen.
Stating clearly that the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis "fully supports all democratic principles," Minister Liburd explained that "there is one thing that is constant and there is one thing that is unavoidable in this world and that is change."
According to Minister Liburd, St. Kitts and Nevis has benefitted from an "arrangement under the Energy Cooperation Agreement between the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis that has existed for over 10 years." He further explained that the Petro Caribe Agreement goes beyond the trading of oil at a special rate but that it also incorporates a social development dimension.
While reluctant to speak to the future, Minister Liburd indicated that it is clear in his mind that Prime Minister Harris has a good repertoire with leaders throughout the world and he "strongly believes that there would not be much change."
Speaking further to the abilities of Prime Minister Harris, Minister Liburd said he has witnessed Prime Minister Harris in bilateral discussions with President Maduro. He indicated that it took only minutes for the two leaders to reach an agreement on an EC $16 million grant that was used as a gratuitous payment for former employees of the St. Kitts Sugar Manufacturing Corporation.
"That is the kind of leader we have in the Team Unity Government and I say so because it is a fact," said Minister Liburd.
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