LIMA (Reuters) – The United States urged regional leaders last Saturday to take stronger steps to isolate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as it joined a declaration condemning the worsening humanitarian crisis and political repression in the South American nation.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence told the Summit of the Americas in the Peruvian capital that immediate action was needed as Venezuela gears up for presidential elections on May 20 that have been condemned by many regional leaders as a farce to legitimize Maduro’s rule.
For the first time, the United States backed a statement by heads of state from the Lima Group of nations – established last year to seek a peaceful end to Venezuela’s political turmoil – which called on Maduro to release political prisoners and hold free elections.
Despite an economic collapse that has driven an estimated 3 million people to flee his once-prosperous OPEC nation, Maduro is expected to win next month’s poll.
Venezuela’s two most popular opposition leaders are banned from competing and electoral authorities are stacked with government supporters.
“The United States of America will not stand idly by as Venezuela crumbles,” Pence said in a speech. “Every free nation gathered here must take stronger action to isolate the Maduro regime. We must all stand with our brothers and sisters suffering in Venezuela.”
The statement by the Lima Group voiced alarm at an exodus of migrants from Venezuela and urged governments to intensify actions aimed at restoring democracy.
Washington has already targeted senior members of Maduro’s administration with sanctions due to accusations of corruption and rights abuses.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson raised the prospect in February that this could be broadened to restrict Venezuela’s exports of crude oil and its imports of U.S. refined products.
Neighboring countries’ frustration with Maduro’s socialist government has been stoked by the arrival of thousands of hungry migrants across the border into Colombia and Brazil every day.
CALL FOR HUMANITARIAN AID
The joint statement called on international organizations to offer support to neighboring countries to cope with the arrivals and for Maduro to allow access for humanitarian aid to his nation of 30 million people – something he has refused to do, denying there is a crisis.
“To have in Maduro a leader that will not allow humanitarian aid into his own country as people are starving and people are dying is unconscionable,” Pence said.
Addressing red-shirted supporters at an “anti-imperialist” rally in Caracas, Maduro branded the meeting in Lima as “a complete failure” and said Latin American presidents were wasting their time criticizing him.
Maduro was banned from the Lima gathering due to regional censure of his democratic record.
Hosting the summit, Peru has sought the broadest possible support for the document from governments outside the 14-nation Lima Group – which includes regional heavyweights such as Brazil, Mexico and Canada but not the United States.
However, efforts to build momentum behind the statement were hit by the last-minute cancellation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance.
In the end, the statement was signed by 16 nations, fewer than half of the 35 countries that are members of the Organization of American States (OAS).
Previous efforts to build consensus behind strongly worded condemnations of Venezuela at the OAS have run into resistance not just from Caracas’ left-leaning allies such as Cuba and Bolivia, but Caribbean nations that have benefited from Venezuela’s subsidized oil programmers.
The official theme of the Lima summit was the fight against corruption and leaders agreed a statement calling for improvements in transparency of public tenders, more independent and accountable judiciaries and stronger international cooperation on money laundering.
However, the meeting was overshadowed by U.S. air strikes in Syria in retaliation for what Washington said was a chemical weapons attack by President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
While Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau voiced strong support for the air strikes by the United States, France and Britain, several Latin American nations including Brazil, Argentina and Peru expressed caution about the escalating military action.
“There’s deep concern in Brazil with the escalation of military conflict in Syria,” Brazilian President Michel Temer told the summit. “It’s time to find permanent solutions based on international law to a war that has been going for far too long and ended too many lives.”
“To have in Maduro a leader that will not allow humanitarian aid into his own country as people are starving and people are dying is unconscionable,” Pence said.
If he feels that way, he ought to call for a repeal of the Jones Act, which keeps foreign-flagged vessels from delivering humanitarian aid to Puerto Rico.
Whether in Caracas or Washington, the lust for power over others is the wellspring of wickedness.
I do not agree to isolate Venezuela but instead call for getting rid of the cabal in Venezuela.
Did Francine Baron fly direct from Lima to London to meet up with Roosevelt Skerrit We know they both attended the Commonwealth meeting in London this week. Or is that simply none of our business?
Who cares how she flew
this is important how? would it have made a difference if she flew back to DA and then flew to London? what turns on this?
Given the America First domestic and foreign policy by the Trump administration, I am doing a double take by the Pence’s comment:
““The United States of America will not stand idly by as Venezuela crumbles,” Pence said in a speech. “Every free nation gathered here must take stronger action to isolate the Maduro regime. We must all stand with our brothers and sisters suffering in Venezuela.”
Our brothers and sisters?! Plus – What about our brothers and sisters suffering in the US from racism and so many harsh policies designed to disenfranchise the poor, working class and ethnic minorities? Trump and Pence do not care about people from “….hole” countries so what came out of Pence at this summit was hot air.
That is skerite padner self… a dictator. .so sKerite want Dominica so he can rule forever… sick fella … this coming election u will be kicked out and placed in jail…
As a Dominican who voted Labour i think Skerrit, need to take a stand against Venezuela, this is a load of ********, you are a ********so-called workers blue belly supporter,what could Mr Skerrit, on his own do to change any thing in Venezuela, any way Venezuela is a good friend of Dominica why should we interfere in Venezuela internal business, USA and the lot of you guys should piss off from other people peaceful communities in the Caribbean region,and go to hell most of us are not uncle Tom anymore goodbye!!!
Soon there will be no dogs to bite in Venezuela……….they will all have been eaten by hungry people. You can not eat oil.
were you high when you wrote this piece ^^? you have contradicted yourself in the same post.
U ignorant people every thing is Skerrit. What has the US And Egland did for us than to to dictate our life. U all must never forget the good that Venezuela has done for us in the Caribbean. What is happening to them is because of sanctions. The US is not hurting the Venezuelan government they are hurting it’s people by doing so. Once u are not on their side they do it to u. Look at what ISRAEL is doing but because it’s their friend it’s justified. My people put party and politics aside for once and think. Thank u.
Dominica have diplomatie relationele with Israël and right now they are here helling us to build houses. I Don’t mind but Skerrit wants to eat from both sides. He is just an opportunist.
It is easier for snow to fall on the city of Roseau, on a summer afternoon, then for Roosevelt Skeritt to publicly condemn, or isolate Venezuela in terms of its worsening humanitarian situation.
America has already destabled the country and continues to try to do so as well as encouraging others to stand with them America wants control of this region especially with regards to oil. currently the price of a barrel of oil is down. Once America has secured Venezuela and the middle east again, watch the price of oil go back up to ensure america’s profitability. They cannot stand competition especially so close. they have tried relentlessly to get us away from our ALBA/petro carib agrements and favor their suppliers. NOW MORE THAN EVER WE NEED TO STAND WITH VENEZUELA who has always been there for us. America is a cancer to the earth. americans think they are the answer, but in truth they are the cause of the problem in this side of the world.
Do you know how much oil is inTexas and Alaska?Do you know how much oil America has in reserved?Would you prefer to see people die of starvation than to condemn the wrong of someone? You are very wicked and heartless. sell your soul like Judas
all the time, you are an absolute idiot, you should try learning your history about the American governments, they destroy our bananas industry, so that we could not sell the UK and the European market,, also they would not allow us to export little that the Caribbean has to offer because of fear we may deny Americans out of work. Now let us get one thing straight, I’m not against the Americans all i am saying Venezuelan government, and people are our friends we are all Caribbean people, And we should not be doing American dirty work for them, the British always said don’t burnt your bridge because one day you might want to cross back over!! never forget that vital information.
And you are very judgmental. Do you know why america went after Sadam Hussain? Even after they have all that oil in Texas and Alaska and reserves filled to the brim? In greed you can never have enough. in the end it is not about how much oil they can be satisfied with, it is about control. Control of a people of their resources and making them dependent.
Dogbiter, if America destroyed our Bananasplit industrie how comes St. Lucia, Martinique, Gudeloupe and even Cameroon are selling their bananas in Europe?
If Skerrit an dthe rest of Caribbean leaders were interested in the people of Venezuela and the crisis Maduro has brought on them, they would not wait for the vice president of US to tell them to isolate Maduro, but their own conscience would have led them to that decision. Burt they will not do it because they starting with Skerrit, don’t care a DAMN about the people as long as they get secret money to help them stay in power and become millionaires
As a Dominican who voted labour i think skerrit needs to take a stand against Venezuela, we are enabling the suffering of millions of people.
The only thing that is enabling the suffering of millions of Venezuelans is the US government!
Bunch of crooks!
FOr sure THIS IS NOT FOR sKERRIT,MADURO IS HIS FATHER.
We know the USA, always have ulterior motives and like their will done every time but even so we must temper that against the current struggles experienced in Venezuela. I recently spoke to a former classmate who resides there. The situation is dyer for many.
So why would Maduro keep the presidency? It seems like it’s a sickness that goes to these Men heads. The reality is clear, the country is troubled and failing, why not get out the people’s way…Some men get mad with Power…The current PM in Dominica showing strong signs that this is the course he will also lead regardless of what people say…I don’t know about heaven for there is only proof that we live once. Why some people take advantage of others like that in this one life we have?…