Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Dominica, Hayden Ovando Pirela has said that the situation in Venezuela is not as bad as the media is reporting.
He also took aim at the opposition leader Lennox Linton who recently said that Venezuela is in a hunger situation and has called on the public to donate food to the Venezuelan Embassy for the country.
The ambassador, who spoke through an interpreter, held a press conference at the Venezuelan Embassy in Roseau on Tuesday to comment on matters taking place in his country.
He said there is no hunger situation in Venezuela and it is a “very clear manipulation of that man” (Linton).
“If people bring the food we will take it and we will go to the poor sectors in Dominica to give it to the people,” he remarked. “We are not in a hunger situation. My children are in Venezuela, my grandchildren, my brothers…my family live a normal and ordinary life in Venezuela.”
It is reported that at present oil-rich Venezuela has been experiencing a deep social, economic and political crisis, with unrelenting internal and external forces challenging the political system.
Reports also indicate that the country is lacking in everything from bread, to flour, to toilet paper and other basic items. Looting has become common. The healthcare system is in a state of extreme turmoil with infants dying at an alarming rate. Essential drugs are hard to find and hospitals and doctors are reporting that they have no gloves, water or soap to perform basic procedures.
But Pirela said the matter is being manipulated by the American media.
“We want to clarify that the media in the United States always are being against Venezuela…,” he noted. “Maybe they have some reason about what they are saying, but it’s evident of their manipulation.”
He believes the key solution to the crisis in Venezuela is through dialogue.
“I think the main solution is the dialogue, to talk to opposition sectors,” he said. “They deny the dialogue with Venezuela. Through the dialogue, we can go to a solution.”
However, he noted, the opposition in Venezuela, who he said members belong to private businesses and who own big supermarkets, is not interested in dialogue.
Pirela also said in spite of its problem, Venezuelan projects in the Caribbean will continue.
“We are not stopping our commitment with the Caribbean,” he stated. “The government is still having a good disposition to continue with all the projects in the Caribbean. Given all the economic problems, we have we are still pushing up the projects.”
He noted that Venezuela will soon have joint projects with the government of Dominica to pick up all the scrap metals from Tropical Storm Erika.
Your UWP leader does not support Maduro and so you do not. Nothing better is expected of you. When you hate, you really hate. Your opinion make no difference. You have yours, others have theirs. I can inform you, you are wrong, spewing hatred and mapwee as usual.
If you are so concerned, help the Venezuelans. Put your money where you mouth is. Do not be hypocrites.
Calling him sick and wicked. Your comments project you the same, how sick and wicked you are. The pot, calling the kettle black. With people as you D/ca will never progress because you do not want it to progress. You place a curse on it. It will affect you.
Maduro has his supporters. The opposition has theirs. No exception in D/ca. You project this very well.
Allow people their freedom of speech as you expect them to accord you, biased people.
If Venezuela is in turmoil, it is all politics. The same in D/ca. Each Party, one on the right side and one on the wrong side has its supporters.
Why should the leader of the UWP Support maduro who is a brutal communist dictator? For him to support that beast of Venezuela; the leader of the UWP might as well support Skerrit, that dam corrupt half bald-head miserable dictator Roosevelt Skerrit!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaahahahhahahha!
What this man is saying is that Dominica is as much bad under scar it as it is in Venezuela!
OK, I know he looks like a some of us but out of a population of more than 30 million Venezuela could not find an ambassador to Dominica who speaks English. They had to put politics first, just like Dominica’s ambassador to Mexico, Brazil, etc. Shame on our poor countries #politicsbeforeprogress
To south city…….. sour grapes. You can’t come over. Hahahahahaha
Wow this guy is wicked! and the long lines waiting for food don’t lie. He is part of the regime so he will always protect Maduro. Do you think any of Skerrit’s ministers will say anything bad about the Government?
Go ahead Mr. Ovando!!! Spread your lies. You must know that this is NOT Venezuela so your propaganda will not work. Mr. Linton is now the troubling issue. Sir I have Just returned from Venezuela and the situation is dire. When you speak you make reference to your family, but also tell the Dominican public that you and your ilk are the ones who still enjoy what is left. When the country crumble completely, what will you say then??
HOTEP!
hey, we making excuses for Venezuela? Pirela is too brazen and bold face. The news is all over the world not American reporters only reporting. I saw it on BBC and other media. People are dying does this mean that all is well. Out of desperation Maduro run to Jamiaca and Trinidad to request billions of dollars of basic food items. What does that say? There is no food in the country. Pirela talking for himself and his job. He does not want his stint here to end he wants to remain in Dominica. Pirela should be ashamed of himself, he is selfish and needs to care about the poor people in Venezuela who are hungry and have no, medical supplies and basic necessities. Pirela must desist from making political statements as an ambassador. He is interfering in the political affairs of our country. He cannot make the statement he made about Lennox Linton, he must be careful. Lets wait and see how things unfold in Venezuela. Labor & Venezuela – six of one half dozen of another
As they say here…BULLS—!
I was in Caracas about 10 years ago on business. At that time, a beautiful and exciting city (except for the poor barrios in the hills, surrounding the city). Yes…poverty exists in EVERY country in the world…then and now.
But to hear the Ambassador tell his story of lies, misconceptions, and other CRAP – what a waste of time! He should work in public relations…this was a PRESS RELEASE…NOT a news story. And for him to blame the media (including the BBC, one of the MOST respected and honest-reporting news organizations in the word) – again TOTAL CRAP!
Disculpe y lo siento!
According to DNO, the ambassador said ”there is no hunger situation in Venezuela and it is a “very clear manipulation of that man” (Linton)”. Huh?
Mista should ask Maduro to send some ships to full with water and produce, he blaming America. All u socialist need to stop.
REALITY CHECK!
Notwithstanding Ambassador Pirela’s assertion the Keith Mitchel govt. of Grenada announced yesterday, 31 May that it is following in St. Vincent & the Grenadines footsteps and is ready to bring its students home form crisis torn Venezuela. (Caribbean 360 news service).
http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/31/news/economy/venezuela-shortage/index.html
The ambassador reminds me of Sadam Hussain propagandists. While Iraqi troops surrendering and Sadam running ,Sadam propagandist claiming that the US troops are in total defeat. The things propagandists such as Tony Astaphan, the Venezuela ambassador, ambassador tight pants etc would say or do
His family is OK so things are kool in Venezuela. One thing for sure, Maduro can manipulate state controlled media,their foreign mission but Maduro cant control the effects of a failed economy. All the international media cant be wrong particularly on an ongoing crisis situation.
Mr is doing his job
(wicked but his job)
He is not a diplomatic by career; he was pick up from a group of party member with some good connections within the corrupt system. He is not an ambassador he is a politician.
I don’t believe anything this ambassador says. I would be at all surprised if one day he says a boy and girl are the same
And what would you expect a government ambassador to actually say……the truth?
Hey for once i agree with the crazy ambassador. ” it not as bad’ No it is ten time worst as what the media says
Famous Psychologist Sigmund Freud described denial as “a state- of -knowing- but -not -knowing.” Thanks to the envoy, we know that his country is a socialist paradise and any mention of a state of emergency or shortages of basic supplies like flour and toilet paper may be a figment of the imaginations of some very bad opposition people. And his family is in Venezuela and they know nothing about shortages.
In George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” all animals are equal but some are more equal than others. And the more equal animals do not have to stand in line for milk and eggs. They are available in abundant supply at state house.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/28/world/americas/venezuela-crisis-what-next.html?_r=0
It is sad that the ambassador is trying to use the old Soviet style play book of propaganda. The ambassador should realize that we are in 2016 and that there are many sources of direct information. Every one knows that the Venezuelan economy has been in free fall for some time. The reports of scarcity hunger and misery are all true. People are dying for lack of medication. Even the military is preventing people from obtaining goods over the border in Columbia. This is the result of a socialist centralized system which Chazev and Maduro are busy embracing while Cuba and the Castro’s who have tried it for over fifty years, have realized it does not work and are busy running away from it to a more market oriented situation. Hyper inflation has ravaged the value of the currency. It is shameful that the ambassador is out there criticizing Linton and supporting the continued bleeding of Venezuela. The thousands of families who have not had ay meet for months must be horrified by your…
You mean to say that what the Western media is showing of Venezuela is similar to the Salisbury uprising: an isolated area amidst a grander country?
\”The long lines you see of people wanting to buy bread and sugar, is not people of Venezuela. These are folks in Ethiopia and Ghana. We are doing just fine in LONGLINEEZUELA.\”
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, in making the announcement in Parliament earlier today, said that this initiative to sell commodities such as flour, rice and toilet paper to Venezuela, is to be financed by the debt which this country owes for fuel under the PetroCaribe programme.
Dr. Gonsalves said Dr. Jerrol Thompson, Coordinator of Special Projects in the Prime Minister’s Office, discussed the plans with the PetroCaribe’s Sales Marketing Manager, Ramirez Guerrero, during a recent meeting in Venezuela, on the sidelines of PetroCaribe’s 16th Ministerial Council meeting held in Caracas on Friday
http://999wefm.com/local-news/svg-to-sell-commodities-to-venezuela-2/
OAS head moves against Venezuela.???????
Venezuela situation not as bad as media reports ambassador says????????
This man is sick. Venezuela is in the mouth of the abyss and he and Skerro stuck in denial mode. What a shame. Here is a link for all you readers to see that Lennox is right on the money;
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/05/venezuela-hospitalseconomic-crisis-160530151128000.html
Always Assertive!
I previously stated the situation in Venezuela may not be as bad as reported. I have no reason to doubt what the Ambassador stated. We do know the News could be exaggerated by those Media people.
Some people will always be negative and deny what they hear/read about as untrue. Believe what the Ambassador stated as true. If you doubt and deny it, why not take a trip to Venezuela and see for yourselves?
I will follow you, gladly so, to Venezuela and any other country that you need to travel to in order to see for yourself what the true situation is, since the media is so misguiding. Often, I have wondered why when growing up people spoke of “common sense” for sure, this doesn’t exist! You are a classical follower of sick minded and stupidity….why not take a trip back to slavery and experience it….then come back and tell us if it is truly so reported or did you get a dose of “facing the facts.”
Why don’t YOU take a trip there yourself. If you really think that all this is being made up by the media go take a stroll around Caracas yourself. Publish a youtube video of what you find. Make an article about it and prove everyone wrong. You talk so much religious stuff and yet you are this dishonest when it comes to politics. It’s sad.
SO CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera and all d media are liars. Can the ambassador tell us why they had to go to Trinidad last week to beg for rice, chicken, butter etc? Can he tell us why China had to donate 1.3billion worth of basic medicine to venezuela? Shame on this ambassador!!! Instead of asking for help the man asking people to turn a blind eye to the plight of the venezuelan poor people.
you should also ask him, why are governments removing their students in venezuela and particularly why are dominican student relocating to cuba.
…if things are so good,wey the 250 Petro Casas promised to Dominica? .. Not all Duminicans are are as foolish as you think to believe your nonesense
A person ask, why our young people are being murder overseas, they have LL syndrome, Dominicans talk too much. Instead of giving to the poor and needy in Dominica LL belittle them. Charity begins at home.
Your doggone scatterbrain and idiot,why can’t you shut up…You are stupid and brainless!!!
If America was twisting the facts there would not be any photos of evidence to share with the world.. Man your country is a sinking ship acknowledge that and begin to fix the problem brushing it under the mat will not solve anything. May the lord have mercy on his children in Venezuela. And on your lying soul as well Mr ambassador
Mr ambassador with all due respect to you sir,your title is ambassador,and not POLITICIAN.. LEAVE OUR POLITICS FOR US….Your concern should be Dominica,and not a political party….As I did in the past, let me reiterate that I fully support the comment made by honourable Lennox Linton that Skerrit should be the first one in the commonwealth asking for help towards the poor in Venezuela…I REJECT the comment by the ambassador,since I am seeing,hearing and reading what is happening in Venezuela.No ambassador/politician will have me to believe otherwise…..LENNOX I FULLY ENDORSE ,your statement for the second time..
I find that ambassador sounding like minister Austrie.
Ambassador I read your statement very carefully. First of all media is the plural of medium so it should always be conjugate accordingly ( i.e. Media are). You say that “things are not as bad…”, so you admitting they are bad, but not as bad as portrayed by the news media? Are all the news reports and life broadcasts faked? Why is it that the international airlines serving your country are pulling out, one after the other, one of the main reasons being that they can not repatriate their Bolivar revenues in U.S. Dollars? Can you pay the running costs of your Embassy in Dominica in Bolivars? I guess not. Is Petro Caribe in Dominica picking up the tab for our government to offset against the money (U.S. $!!) that we owe your country.?
Sometimes it is wiser to be silent rather than open one’s mouth.
What a wicked, wicked, wicked soul! Ah malgre ca. For him to make that declaration proves he is a monster with no conscience for the suffering of his people. He is right to say his family in Venezuela is not suffering because they belong to the ruling cabal that will continue to prosper through corruption. Oh my goodness,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-LohKOLVSU
a picture is worth a thousand words…lol
It is unfortunate, the Ambassador has to play politics with the lives of the Venezuelan people. I have seen approximately ten foreign news papers and television stations which have reported news concerning the situation in his country. Because a cry for assistance came from Lennox Linton, just like Skeritt, his recommendation is of no importance. Remember post Erika, we heard of a similar situation. A Doctor made a donation of badly needed medical supplies, it was alleged, he supported the UWP, the Government made every effort to reject the supplies. As a matter of fact, it was reported, the Government played so much politics with the supplies that a quantity of the supplies had to be destroyed, because of the length of time it took to be cleared from customs. As far as those leaders are concerned, the people come first only at election time, case in point, Skeritt verses Danny Lugay’s involvement in Lindo Park.
Mr. Pirela, what else can you say? After all, you represent your country and its regime. Why did Lufthansa decide to stop flying to Venezuela and now also Latam, the largest south American carrier.? If your family is doing fine in Venezuela, I am glad for them but obviously they must be looked after by the party, like the other political elite and the military. We saw the same pattern in the Soviet Union before it collapsed. Anyway, you are welcome to stay here with us and enjoy your tax free life, while you are in denial.
he is right, the food should be given to the poor in Dominica because he help our current PM make the people poor and rely on the government for handouts. So yes leave the food in Dominica and he and the PM will deal with Venezuela. This man is just as wicked if not more wicked than Maduro. We seeing what is going on in Venezuela on BBC and the man have the guts to make that statement?
wow…wow…wow…And Lennox you too fast to offer help to the people. Their leaders do not want help since they don’t mind if the people die…Sad, very sad.
It is the same thing America said about Morise Bishop that he had people in containers cooking in the hot sun. The evidence of what they are doing around the world speaks for itself self. They are now trying to distablelize Europe now. Check it out. Look at the source of the problem and who is behind all that.
idiot check for yourself
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-LohKOLVSU
Is only Laborites who dont look at news and read you can expect to believe that crap
That’s the reason why, when you are in denial, there is no room for progress. And so it is with the governments of the same….
President Chavez personal bodyguard Major General Cliver Alcala, criticises Maduro for destroying Chavez’s dream and Venezuela! Please give me your analysis of this Mr Ambassador. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-36399648
Oh yes, and we remember when you all said that Chavez was not sick, not dying of cancer and going to live forever – blah, blah, blah, blah but Maduro will not last the next 6 months!
What would anyone expect him to say. It is bad, Very bad.
Ambassador Pirela,you are meddling in the politics of Dominica and that is unbecoming of your office.Mr Linton spoke to the leadership of the Dominican government when asking to give support for the Venezuelan people.He didn’t address you,s o I don’t understand why you are addressing him.You are out of place and personally acted beneath the dignity of the office you hold.You speak for Maduro not for the hungry people of your country,who were made poor by the policies of Hugo Chavez.Don’t blame the US for your demise,but look at your backward economic and social ideas.You are just grand standing and all intelligent people know that.Shame on you.When is your country going to give us back Bird Island?We will surely manage it’s resources better than Chavez and Maduro
Is this US media,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh4JXgjljXs&feature=player_embedded
Hayden, you are a liar!
They say seeing is believing, and a picture is worth more than a thousand words. You cannot deny, nor whitewash the situation in Venezuela. Maybe if were existing in the primitive days where people communicated via the drums and smoke, you might be believable!
These days you cant lie about it because even if a photograph is not officially displayed by a local individual, the are cameras in the sky transmitting the instant it happens you and only perhaps those you brainwashed in your country, but the rest of the world knows how bad, and nasty the situation is in Venezuela.
The bottom line is simply this; the economy of Venezuela has collapsed, and the sooner you stop lying and accept the reality, the more trust worthy you will appear: right now your credibility stinks!
ps……………….. Lennox Linton did not ask for food to be given to venezuela>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>correction…………… a caller to the hot seat program made that suggestion. The host of the program posed the question to Mr Linton and he (mr linton) indicated that it was a brilliant idea. not me though because i didnt benefit from the millions Chavez squandered in Da with the skerrit led admin
America has always been giving wrong news, I refuse to listen to their news. America is the most CORRUPT country in the world and Dominicans still going to live there.
I approve this message!! Faux News is the leader of the propaganda pack … Just look at who might be sitting in the Oval Office in January.
” Faux News”
What is faux news, which media is known a faux news? Is it the one which reports all killing and robberies carried out in the village of Calibishi?
As for that dumb no name like south city, you all do not like America because America, do not give free hands to you all where all they give in money simply goes into their pockets of politicians. Beat you, gums on America, yet you bleed to come here.
America donates billions of Dollars to nations like Israel, Pakistan, and many other nations annually, how much do they give to Dominica, even in a disaster the gave you all a hundred thousand meager dollars it is because of the corrupted politicians and fools like you why they do not give more!
Think about that you two damn idiots!
BBC is lying? Aljazeera is lying? Retuers is lying?
What about youtube and all those videos recorded by people IN VENEZUELA? And this is considering that the government is making it illegal to record videos of food lines and empty shelves
awa, England more currupt
Deny deny and deny, this has been the case with this Venezuelan Gov\’t operators for years now. He is of course saying that on request from Skrrro and DLP who are as desperate as Maduro and his gangs .
First of all he should not get involved in our local politics as an ambassador! What if UWP wins the next election how will he us? Instead for him to thank Lennox good intentions he and Skerro trying to spin this and make it a Linton issue. The whole world is feeling sad about Venezuela so how can he come and say that Linton is being critical for no reason! It was just last week that Grenada sent one-way ticket to all it\’s students who are studying over there. So what is he talking about ?
But, Venezuela has been good to Dominica , since 1979 after Hurricane David I remember it\’s soldiers in Massacre By-pass with machinery clearing out stuff. So I wish I had the means to help them out now. And yes I share Lennox sentiments.
You are correct, give it to Dominican, because every where I go somebody begging.
You are ashamed to put your real name next to the garbage that you express.
My brother Venezuelans talking about their personal experiences!
Your president just went to Trinidad recently to make an appeal for rice and black beans!
Wait till maduro start to cry like chavez while people like you will be in silent submission!
My boy, you just spreading propaganda like joke. What! Well it’s either we are fools or you are fooled. Boy Lennox really powerful.
Mr. Ambassador i doubt the half of Dominicans will comprehend what u tried to explain. Spoke to my Venezuelan friends recently and they had they shared similar opinions on the matter. The opposition with the help of the USA is trying their best to get rid of the Goverment instead of getting a solution.
pps its not as simple as you think!!!
Your venezuelan friends are wicked and probably one of the few benefiting from the government. Those are the only people who still repeat the kind of crap the ambassador is saying.
My God!!! What a wicked man!!!!
Let us read this comic strip again from the Ambassador.
He said there is no hunger situation in Venezuela and it is a “very clear manipulation of that man” (Linton).
“If people bring the food we will take it and we will go to the poor sectors in Dominica to give it to the people,” he remarked. “We are not in a hunger situation. My God Dominica is that bad under Skerrit?
This guy, like his clowns in Venezuela are all in denial. Look at the picture that comes with the article, is it Venezuelans or Americans or Barbadians quing up. A psychiatric matter facing the leaders of Venezuelans now, with Maduro at the top.
Now look an oxymoron, he refers to Hon Linton as that “Man” and also saying that ..”if they get food he will go to the poor sectors in Dominica to give it to the people,” he remarked. “We are not in a hunger situation….But it seems in denial Dominica have poor and hungry people. What an insult to Skerrit and his government. He must be regretting he uttered those words…
hahaha now you coming and talk compadre? maybe you could say that two years ago and fool one or two people but not now. You all really have guts but God is not a police. The people of Venezuela will be free from your corrupt regime whether you like it or not
This man is as wicked as Maduro and Skerrit your foot in oil in
Dominica while your people catching hell so u don’t know
You don’t see you don’t hear The cries of these people
And i believe you Sir. I can never listen to American news about you.
@smh hey man,,read news from trinidad,,,,,,even the mayor said that the caribbean and Colombia might suffer an influx of refugees if the situation if food shortages worsen..skerrit was right when he said dominicans stupid,,,hey man…you’re one of them,,,read i say read
The US authorities and the US media do not know how to mind their own business. God knows how much the US needs to clean-up their country in many ways. There is a lot of poverty in the US but these people poke their noses in the business of other countries and forget their own.
I knew it!… this issue is created by the opposition, its started as soon as they got into power. The president dismissed the remaining members of his parliament after the opposition go the majority of the seats. They are the ruling power with the President, they blame the President for all their issues.
Please tell me you’re being sarcastic. There’s no way anybody can be that ignorant about the situation at this point.
You kidding. How can you think that Laborats cant be thst ignorant.
SAD !! PAPAMET ……God alone that can help guys like that . Sorry for the poor Venezuelans suffering. They can say its a lie or its all America’s fault – pathetic dictators
This guy, like his boss Maduro, is living in a dream world. They are not touched by the situation that is affecting millions of Venezuelans. These guys living large in Dominica while their country suffers and Maduro keeps lying to the people that all is well and many believe them.
We have a similar situation here in Dominica. Dress the people in red and bring them to Soufriere for a fete like nothing is going on but it is the very people who can hardly make ends meet or who is working for bare minimum wages.
Pirela, you cannot fool us ok….you might fool the reds who blindly follows what their boss says, but not us intelligent Dominicans.
well give them the food you linton want to give them so they give it to poor Dominicans,clen up your backyard first before you see your neighbors gabbage,you not familiar with these terms?
joker
Dominicans do you expect Pirela to say anything better remember he told you in Dominica that his family, friends and others in positions are living an ordinary life in Venezuela so people ask yourselves who are the ones suffering over there it’s the poor and less fortunate then ask yourselves the same question in Dominica and you will get the very same result. Now you understand why Skerrit didn’t say anything about what is going in that country instead all they do these days is blame Lennox Linton and the United States , but woe unto them they will perish like their mentor who is dead. People of Dominica genuine prayers are the most powerful not even the devil can stop it so keep praying and the chains of slavery will begin to fall off Dominica, Change is coming and it’s a must.
When Chavez was told he was very sick and would die this same ambassador and other leading voices of the DLP, said the same thing, up to two weeks before he died. So do I expect to hear something different today from the same?
How foolish does this guy think we are to believe the Americans are wasting time bending the facts regarding the situation in Venezuela. Keep fooling yourself with that nonsense
Help DLP win the by-election and we will send food money and others to Venezuela Skerrit need him to help stop the train that is coming with change on board , remember Skerrit same he want the seat as a tribute to the disgraced minister well let us prove to him that Dominica is a real country and send the message loud let them know it’s your time to correct your mistake from the last election no more nice guy/woman you need real men/woman in leadership and in cabinet .
That guy is a communist, so what can be expected from him?
As I stated if news still traveled by the sound of drums, carried by the wind, and smoke transmitted by the wind; he might be able to fool the cave men of that primitive era; these days we see it as it happens, as it is in progress; he is only portraying himself as an idiot!
Every dictator is a communist tyrant, any nation operating under a dictatorship utilizing their communistic ideology is destine to fail. Hence Venezuela has met its ultimately fate!