The Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW) applauds the CARICOM Heads of Government who at their recent Summit in Grenada discussed the serious challenges facing Venezuela and its people and offered their good offices to facilitate a dialogue between the government and the opposition forces there.

The CARICOM heads also reaffirmed their guiding principles of adherence to the rule of law, respect for human rights and democracy, as well as for the fundamental principles of non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of states.

At the end of their summit meeting, the CARICOM Heads of Government called for all parties in Venezuela to commit to renewed dialogue and negotiation leading to a comprehensive political agreement with established time tables, concrete actions and guarantees to ensure its implementation for the well-being of the Venezuelan nation.

Concerned with the difficult political, economic and social situation in Venezuela, in particular, the increase in violence and polarization between the Government and the Opposition, and its effect on the people of Venezuela, and recognizing the urgent need to find an internal solution to the present situation, the CARICOM Heads of Government mandated the Chairman of the Conference (PM Mitchell of Grenada) to communicate with the parties concerned in Venezuela about this offer.

IBW is also very concerned about reports of racist violence by right-wing, anti-government forces targeting members of the Afro-Venezuelan community, and we call on the Congressional Black Caucus to investigate these reports and to support CARICOM’s position by demanding that the Trump Administration cease and desist interfering in Venezuela’s domestic affairs and in undermining its national sovereignty.

IBW condemns recent efforts by Organization of American States’ Secretary General Luis Almagro and a small group of powerful states in the OAS who are relentlessly attacking the Venezuelan government, openly supporting the opposition forces and are attempting to divide and weaken the solidarity of the 14 CARICOM member states of the OAS on their stance towards the crisis in Venezuela.

Furthermore, IBW supports the position of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who continues to consistently uphold Article 15 of the OAS Charter which says that “no state or group of states has the right to intervene, directly or indirectly, for any reason whatever, in the internal or external affairs of any other state…and this principle prohibits not only armed force but also any other form of interference or attempted threat against the personality of the state or against its political, economic and cultural elements.”

Finally, The Institute of the Black World 21st Century urges the CARICOM countries to resist pressure from Washington and from the OAS and continue to stand firm in their united and principled position concerning the crisis in Venezuela.

Contact:
Tel: 410-844-1031
Email: editors@ibw21.org

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