The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has said it is noting “with grave concerns” the increasing tension in the relations between the United States and Venezuela.
In a statement on Friday the organization said it “cherishes the principles of democracy and the rule of law, and peaceful coexistence and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.”
“The OECS also values highly, the longstanding friendship of its neighbours the United States of America and Venezuela, countries which constitute perpetual, integral and indivisible parts of our hemisphere,” the statement said. “Unilateral and unwarranted actions only serve to undermine these principles.”
The OECS also said it “deeply concerned” over statements and actions made in the recent past about the situation which it said “served only to heighten tensions in the relations between those countries, and to undermine the peace and security of the region and the hemisphere as a whole.”
“The OECS therefore calls for a return to the spirit and practice of dialogue as the principal means to the resolution of differences and conflict. The OECS also calls upon both countries to refrain from actions and statements which serve to hamper the legitimate desires of the people of our hemisphere for peace as a foundation upon which to build a better future,” the statement said.
Relations between the US and Venezuela are icy at the moment.
Earlier this month US President, Barack Obama, signed a executive order considering Venezuela a national threat.
The US also froze the assets and denied visas to seven Venezuelan officials, accused of being responsible for cracking down on anti-government protesters in clashes that left more than 40 people dead and led to the jailing of a number of prominent opposition political figures.
Venezuela has accused the US of trying to overthrow the government.
It is so strange that in the entire Caribbean region, that only the UWP political party has spoken against a Caribbean head of state siding with Venezuela. This speaks volumes about the party’s backward foreign policy.
Donkey has no place in a horse race
OECS….please keep the primary focus on your own affairs and let Venezuela & the USA iron out their differences.
Why don’t you OECS hypocritical leaders shut up! You all will support any evil leader, once it is of personal benefit The corrupt oil money from Venezuela is leaving you all and i’m happy.
Good my U.S and Obama, crack down on these rogue corrupt leftist leaders.They criticise Western European and American civilization, but in turn treat their nationals and countries worse by ruling with iron fist and stealing the resources of their countries to enrich themselves, living kings and lords, whilst the masses lives in poverty.I want the U.S and Europe to help us stop Skeritt before it gets worse on us.
“I want the U.S and Europe to help us stop Skeritt before it gets worse on us.” What exactly do you expect? The Europeans can’t even help themselves, and the Americans never do anything for altruistic reasons. What you’re suggesting either means economic sanctions, which would crush the Dominican economy and impoverish the people, or for the U.S. literally to invade Dominica to force regime change, which would be a complete disaster.
You truly are not open minded. You sound like an Uncle Tom. It’s people like you who keep imperialism/racism going strong.
The relations between countries is based on self interest and each country have a right to defend their own interest but there must be a more advance code of action that will not bring catastrophic burdens on the majority of vulnerable people because the very same countries have to find resources to rebuild what they destroy. Europe was destroyed after the War and there was a Marshall plan to rebuild, the argument is why spend so much effort on destroying and then find resources to rebuild, this signifies that human beings put ego before reason and self interest before collective interest. Human effort should be directed towards building relations between people and not sowing the seeds of hatred and constructing what divides them. Freedom does not only mean I can do what I want, it also means I have the capacity to respect the wishes of others even if I do not agree with them.
OECS position seems balanced and realistic
Well observed Dr. Shillingford. It is also glaringly different from the one expostulated by Roosevelt Skerrit. I would appear that he went off on his own and did not consult his peers before making the public comments in Caracas and this official OECS statement is a diplomatic rebuke of his action. If so, our P.M. must feel pretty isolated at this monent in time.
A CARICOM perspective would be interesting. Let peace prevail on this earth.
I would not like this region become a zone of conflict and war between countries because this will seriously affect economic prosperity. Each country have a right to defend its interest but the strong can easily defend its interest at the expense of the weak.
Again he that is first in his own cause seems just.
That sounds like a severe ticking -off for our P.M., who went out on a limb on this one. I’m sure that has not endeared him to his fellow O.C.S. leaders. You have to realize that you can not run the O.E.C.S. liketyou run your own country mr. Skerrit.
Some people just don’t get it. Venezuela has no problem with the US. In fact it is the US that has a problem with Venezuela. All Skerrit is saying is America should leave Venezuela alone and this is basically exactly what the OECS is saying. Nothing is wrong with the OECS position niether that of PM Skerrit. Who on earth knows two people very well and will not step in to quell a heated argument between them? When America decided to invade Iraq, the Pope voiced his opinion against it and asked Bush not to invade Iraq. I did not hear not one Catholic say that the Pope had no right to get involved in it. Some people are too hypocrite. Don’t you know that there are citizens of Venezuela as well as all the other members of Alba living and working in America? Again we see Linton and his followers displaying downright infantile behavior. Mah qwaysah! Who knows? Maybe if Linton was Prime Minister Dominica would have pulled out from the OECS.
You are right, I am a Dominican also and I don’t get the logic of your argument. Sorry, I must be dumb.
Very well stated (OEC)S. United we stand in the region.
Skerrit obviously believes that he was in Dominica where he speaks all his ignorance, hurl all his insults an then tells the people to Go to Hell. THE OECS HEADS SHOULD DEMAND THAT HE STEPS DOWN.He seem to have represented himself and not the OECS. First of all he was
Inappropriately dressed, , and spoke against some of the things he condones right here in Dominica. This level of duplicity is typical of Skerrit, because political apathy has ruined our land.Where else in the OECS can a PM do this, and the people would not ask him/her TO GET THE HELL OUT?
Little does % know. He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool. Please sir, Dominica is a member of ALBA and PM Skerrit was attending an ALBA meeting. He made his statement as an ALBA member and not as OECS. Furthermore you don’t even understand the OECS position.
Seem like the OECS is dissassociating and almost distancing and/or condeming the ill advised
piece of tomfoolery spoken by Skerrit in Caracas. Their response is measured and unbiased. These are people with brains. They must be cringing in their offices that a man like Skerrit spoke on their behalf.Wonder who wrote the garbage for Skerrit. THEY SHOULD GIVE HIM A SERIOUS SCOLDING when the OECS meet as a body. You think Honourable Leader Lennox Linton, would so disgracefully represent us abroad? To add insult to injury, right here at home,we have no functional institutions, people are threatened whenever they protest, poverty, unemployment, nepotism, cronyism, bobol, peenez in hospital are tearing the country apart. Skerrit does not deal with any of these, You surely did not spout out these words as someone representing me.
This is the KEY to the OECS statement: And I firmly believe it means Skerrit “Shut up”… your range of diplomatic talk is pathetic, personal and un diplomatic.
The OECS also said it “deeply concerned” over statements and actions made in the recent past about the situation which it said “served only to heighten tensions in the relations between those countries, and to undermine the peace and security of the region and the hemisphere as a whole.”
Where you fail Skerrit, we, the OECS Secretariat will clean and protect the good name of the OECS nations and their good and abiding citizens and our relationships with the peoples of USA and Venezuela.
Gracias
God Bless All
Views Epressed by the Prime Minister of St. Vincent. (In an interview with teleSUR, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said “You can’t try to overthrow a democratically-elected government, this is fundamental, you change a government through democratic means, this is a high constitutional principle and we are supporting Venezuela.” )
The OECS statement is spot on and the diplomatic way to go.
The wisdom of the Biblical King Solimon is proverbial. In the 12th chapter , he wrote ” Fools think their way is right, but the wise listen to the advice of others. “. Would that the local powers that be , heed the advice of the OECS body, of which we are a member, and stop helping other leaders and their agents to throw red herrings in this conflict. This is not our battle.
After reading this several times I have to agree with the comments that Mr Linton made on q95 this is a damage control statement.
Where is the OECS when Venezuela government is shooting demonstrators, arresting opposition members and imprisoning political opponents without trial? Where is the OECS when Venezuela government officials are found to have millions of dollars in Swiss Bank accounts? What does the OECS stand for? Is this what we have become in the OECS, pathetically singing for our supper and supporting corruption and victimization of Venezuelans by their government?
what foolishness, u hypocrites !!!