BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Government of National Unity has not received any formal request from its Venezuelan counterpart for any form of assistance in relation to their food crisis.
According to Prime Minister Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris, his Government has received reports from various sources within the South American country but they (reports) did not originate from any official channel.
He noted that his Government would engage through the Government-to-Government channels and that has not been used by the Venezuelans.
“In relations to Venezuela, there has been no official request from the Government of Venezuela to us for support in any way or any matter. What we have had are reports from sources not aligned to the Government of Venezuela making claims as to the state of play in Venezuela,” PM Harris told reporters at his monthly media briefing on Monday (May 31).
“We have excellent relationship with Venezuela, the Government and people; the auspices and channel to which government works is really government-to-government.”
The Prime Minister explained that currently the presidential system in Venezuela for the President to run the country is “still intact”.
He stated that Minister of Public Infrastructure, the Hon. Ian Liburd recently returned from the Spanish-speaking country and no official request was made to him.
Dr. Harris however declared that he and his Government are aware that the Venezuela recently purchased food from sister CARICOM, country Trinidad and Tobago and had entered several other agreements.
“I would say what you hear and what the Government says are two different things. We know that the President visited Trinidad, visited Jamaica [and] had in fact established an arrangement for food...I think with Trinidad and so on. And from all appearances the government is working to deal with some of the challenges that have been reported.”
Venezuela is currently experiencing a crisis situation where it is reported that basic food items are in short supply.
One recent post by a source in Venezuela indicated that milk, toilet tissue, newspapers, meat and many other commodities are scarce.
The Prime Minister noted that unlike Dominica, which had a “factual situation”, they would assist if a similar one arises in Venezuela.
“...if we have to lend help or support to any of our allies, we will be moved in accordance with our resource,” Dr. Harris explained.
