Caricom must help Venezuela

The United States recently sanctioned President Nicolas Maduro and other Venezuelan officials on July 31 after Maduro established a constituent assembly and cracked down on opposition figures. According to a Reuters report, Trump reportedly said the Venezuelan people were “suffering and dying” under the Maduro administration.

Rambachan on Saturday said the region’s close proximity to Venezuela should generate “more than just a passing concern” in the affairs of the south American country.

“Well I think anything happening in Venezuela has to be of concern to us, we are already seeing, whether we like it or not, we are already seeing the influx of people into Trinidad and I think there are more Venezuelans here than meets the eyes,” Rambachan said.

Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley together with Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses, held discussions with Caricom head and Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell and other Caricom members during an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Venezuela.

A brief statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the leaders, who had participated in the video conference call, had engaged in “varied and robust views,” adding that the meeting “centred on promoting dialogue among stakeholders within Venezuela geared towards resolution of the political and social challenges in that country.”