Some Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations have expressed different views on the recent Venezuelan elections. Some members say the elections were free and fair, while others have taken a more cautious approach.
The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), a subgroup of CARICOM, supports the results declared by Venezuela’s electoral council. The council declared President Nicolas Maduro the winner. Several OECS nations, including Antigua, Dominica, St. Vincent, Grenada, St. Kitts, and St. Lucia, are members of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA). These nations have received significant aid from Venezuela, such as prefabricated houses, cash grants, and concession oil under the PetroCaribe Initiative. Venezuela also offers aid to Caribbean nations during natural disasters, giving it geopolitical influence in the region.
Maduro relies on support from leaders like Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and Dominica’s Roosevelt Skerrit. Both congratulated Maduro on his victory. Gonsalves has led St. Vincent since 2001, while Skerrit has led Dominica since 2004. The OECS quickly endorsed Maduro and his regime, even as votes were still being counted. The international community, however, has stated that the main opposition won the election and that Maduro should step down.”We stand on the principle that elections must be free and fair, reflecting the will of the people and free from outside interference,” the OECS said in a statement. “We congratulate President Maduro on his victory and urge national reconciliation. The OECS also appreciates the invaluable support and friendship extended by Venezuela over the past two decades.” In contrast, the larger CARICOM bloc has taken a more reserved stance.
After a summit in Grenada, CARICOM leaders made it clear that the group would not make a unified statement on the Venezuelan elections.”It’s not an indication that CARICOM is divided,” said Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell. “Elections in Venezuela are domestic matters. Venezuela is not a member of CARICOM. We are pleased that the people of Venezuela had the opportunity to exercise their democratic right, but there’s no need for CARICOM to have a position on this issue.”
Maduro and his late predecessor Hugo Chavez invested heavily in building alliances in the Caribbean, often aiding nations in times of crisis. For instance, Venezuela provided Dominica with 300 prefabricated houses after a devastating storm in the past decade.
Source/Photo Credit: Amsterdam News
