Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro revoked a declaration to evict US nationals from the South American country.
This move came as the US attempt to sway UN Security Council for support was met with a lukewarm response. The body failed to take action on the Venezuelan crisis because of deep divisions among countries. There is now a new demand of calling fresh elections in eight days.
Venezuela Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza scoffed at the demand.
Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said that it is now negotiating the establishment of a US Interests Office in Venezuela and will allow US Embassy personnel to remain in the country while talks take place, revoking an order for all personnel to leave the country by yesterday.
According to international reports, the statement said that talks about an interest section will have a 30-day limit and if no agreement is reached embassy personnel will then have to leave the country.
President Nicolas Maduro had broken diplomatic relations with the United Sates on Wednesday and had given embassy personnel three days to leave the country. But the Trump administration had refused to obey his directive, arguing that Maduro is no longer Venezuela’s legitimate president.
The new decision by Venezuela’s government puts off a potential conflict between both countries.
At the UN Security Council meeting, the United States urged all nations to end Venezuela’s “nightmare” and support opposition leader Juan Guaido while Russia accused the Trump administration of attempting “to engineer a coup d’etat” against Maduro—a reflection of the world’s deep divisions over the crisis in the embattled Latin American country.
Opinions clash
Back home, this country’s non-interventionist stance in the Venezuelan crisis got support yesterday from varying quarters, and there was growing criticism against the US Ambassador’s statement.
Political analysts and labour entities criticised US Ambassador’s statement about Government’s non-intervention on the Venezuelan crisis.
And there was also criticism for the Opposition’s move to recognise Venezuelan National Assembly head Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president.
A clash of opinions developed on Friday between US Ambassador Joseph Mondello and Prime Minister Keith Rowley after T&T’s non-interventionist stance on the Venezuelan issue was echoed by Caricom.
Mondello said Guaido has the US’ full support and he found Government’s statements “... recognising the undemocratic and illegitimate government of Nicolas Maduro to be deeply concerning.”
Mondello assured he and the Embassy were “committed to maintaining mutually beneficial bilateral relations” with the government.
The statement brought an immediate fiery response from Rowley who said he took umbrage at the Ambassador’s public statement criticising government’s actions “...As we take action in protection of the interest of the people of T&T. ”
Opposition supports Guaido
The same day Mondello spoke, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said she recognised Guaido as President and called for fresh elections in Venezuela.
The comments arose yesterday after T&T’s position regarding the crisis next door in Venezuela assumed greater spotlight following statements from the Prime Minister and the Opposition.
“The US’ ‘concern’ about T&T is opaque. It was being critical about the Government’s stance and in a public sense. The intention was to intimidate (Dr Keith) Rowley to take a position more aligned with the US’. I’m on the Prime Minister’s side in this. T&T has a sovereign voice and we have expressed our position very clearly. It’s not in accordance with the US’, but that happens with international relations,” said Dr Winford James.
“If repercussions develop, it would be out of pettiness and spite, not respect for T&T’s sovereignty. The US seems to say their position must be ours - we can’t run a sovereign government that way,” he added.
Political analyst Dr Bishnu Ragoonath was also supportive of the Government’s stance.
“I support the Government’s position. As Communication Minister Stuart Young said, we are next door to Venezuela. We have to be careful how we treat with matters of self-declared appointment—Juan Guaido at this point doesn’t have legitimacy. So we should not be bullied by the US which has always played Big Brother roles, trying to tell the region how they should support. It’s in a sense bullying. The US tends to support democracy when it suits their needs,” he said.
“I’m not sure at this point -until the story unfolds—of the repercussions of Dr Rowley’s statements to the US Ambassador. Dr Rowley could have been a lot more diplomatic in response, but he’s not one for diplomacy and sometimes needs guidance,” he added.
He was critical of the Opposition Leader’s recognition of Guaido as Venezuela’s leader.
Joint Trade Union Movement
“The US Embassy’s statement is an attempt to intimidate our government into changing their position even though they have no moral authority to do so. It’s the latest imperialist action in (US) history. The Opposition’s statements have discredited themselves. How could Kamla Persad-Bissessar, a former democratically elected head of Government, attack the sovereign process of a sovereign nation? The Opposition should know every country has the right to determine and control its own affairs—they’re merely parrots of Trump’s backward aggressive foreign policy.”
OPPOSITION MP DR BHOE TEWARIE
“The fact the US ambassador felt compelled to make a statement should be of concern to the Prime Minister and Government. Generally, an ambassador would be more restrained. I’m not sure if the Prime Minister’s dealing with the matter the way he did was the best way to address this. In things like these, it’s better not to widen gaps and to find common ground even if you have a difference of opinion.”
“In any case, both will have to navigate the basis for rapprochement. Government has to navigate their way through, and Dr Rowley would do well to recognise T&T’s multiple interests in this matter with multiple partners notwithstanding the proximity of Venezuela and the intensity of the pressure of current conditions there. Government’s been too slow, inflexible and not strategically responsive with the unfolding of the crisis.”