Caricom expresses concern over hardships, sufferings in Venezuela

Tensions in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela continue to escalate resulting in an increase in hardships and suffering of that population and the imposition of sanctions are making matters worse.
The Caribbean Community (Caricom) on Saturday reiterated that Venezuelans should be allowed to decide their own future in accordance with the principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter.
According to Caricom, it is deeply concerned by the recent further escalation of tensions in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the ensuing increase in hardship and suffering of the population exacerbated by the imposition of sanctions.
In a release to the media on Saturday, Caricom said that there must be non-intervention, non-interference and the prohibition of threat or use of force.
It also maintains that there should be respect for the rule of law, human rights and democracy.
“As Caricom has ceaselessly advocated, for this objective to be attained, there has to be a meaningful and internal dialogue between the contending parties. This dialogue must determine how best the crisis can be resolved within the confines of the Constitution and the rule of law, whether by referendum, elections or any other agreed mechanism. Nothing short of this will lead to the quelling of this crisis or provide the relief that all Venezuelans desire,” the release stated.
According to the Caricom, pending this, there must be a commitment to the delivery of humanitarian aid in a manner that is “not politicised but which uses United Nations mechanisms that have been used over the years for the impartial and effective delivery of humanitarian relief”.
On Friday last, the Trump Administration imposed sanctions on six high-ranking members of the Venezuelan security forces and revoked the visas of other officials and their relatives in the latest effort to pressure President Nicolas Maduro into leaving office.
The sanctions are in response to the blocking of humanitarian aid convoys last week while the visa revocations on dozens of individuals are intended to punish people who have flourished amid the South American country’s dire economic crisis, the special representative for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, told US reporters.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Juan Guaido faces possible arrest upon return after he slipped out of the country in violation of a Supreme Court order to stay within the country’s borders.
Reports in the media on Saturday are that Guaido left Venezuela last week to join aid convoys in Colombia and then met with US Vice President Mike Pence as well as other regional leaders to step up pressure on Maduro to resign.
Maduro’s Government has closed borders with Brazil and Colombia in order to block what he says is an attempt by the US to proceed with its regime change plans.