Caricom countries voted based on national interest – former Minister

When representatives of countries belonging to the Organisation of American States (OAS) met last week to vote not to recognise the legitimacy of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro’s new term in office, most Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries abstained from a vote.
This has since caused a regional debate on the matter and brings to question again whether the regional body, which represents 15 countries, has any strength and unity. But former Foreign Affairs Minister Rashleigh Jackson posits that the vote was based on national interests.
While St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Dominica voted against the

resolution, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, The Bahamas and Haiti voted for it. Meanwhile, St Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Belize, and Grenada all abstained from the vote.
“This was done based on how they perceived their national interest. And there is certain uniqueness about this situation. It wouldn’t take any country especially with such a general issue to vote without thinking about its national interest,” he told Guyana Times.
While he believes the split vote among Caricom countries does not necessarily point to a division, he opines that many may have deliberated on the fact that they should take a no-interference stance. However, he said adherence to principles should have been considered.
“Why… because of the severity of the internal issue within the country (Venezuela). But you can’t expect all the groups to vote the same way on various issues. In some cases, there is going to be diversion for national interest, which used to be a common thing,” he observed.
But Jackson is also of the opinion that countries should consider more often a reflection of regional position rather than a diversion within the group on particular issues like these.
“More often it’s a reflection of a common regional position rather than the divergent of the group on particular issues. I think Caricom is based on solid set of common interest, but it comes a time when the interest and different positions are taken by different countries,” he added.
Asked whether he thinks that these sister Caricom States will back Guyana, should the border controversy with Venezuela intensify, the former Minister says he thinks they will.
“I think they will back us; Caricom is in favour of Guyana’s general principle of territorial integrity. I have faith in the unity of the Caricom, certainly in relation to Guyana’s territorial integrity.”
In 2017, the majority of Caricom countries abstained from a vote at the OAS as the body approved a resolution calling for an extraordinary assembly to vote on suspending Venezuela from the group. The resolution was spearheaded by the United States.
The OAS’s general assembly voted with 19 Member States in favour, four against and 11 abstaining, to take the first step to suspending the South American nation.
Back then, Guyana, The Bahamas, Barbados, and Jamaica supported the resolution, while Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines voted against the measure.
However, Belize, Grenada, Haiti, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago were among the 11 Member States that abstained during the vote.
The OAS has expelled only two nations in its history. Cuba was forced out in 1962, and Honduras was suspended briefly following a 2009 military coup.
The ban of Cuba was lifted in 2009, but the island country rejected rejoining the Organisation.
The recent resolution was taken at the level of the Permanent Council of the OAS, and when the dust from voting had settled, 19 voted in favour of the resolution, six were against it, with eight abstentions and one member completely absent.
According to the resolution, the OAS would not recognise the legitimacy of Maduro’s new term as President. The resolution also urges Member States to use lawful, diplomatic, economic and financial measures to restore democracy to Venezuela.
Among other things, it also calls for new free and fair elections to be held. The resolution notes that the 2018 election failed to meet international standards and it lacked legitimacy.
The resolution also seeks “to invite Member States and Permanent Observers to implement measures to address the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and impacted countries, through the support to appropriate international and regional organisations”.