US Security Advisor, Pres Ali discuss violation of democratic processes in Venezuela

…bilateral cooperation, regional security issues also discussed

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday held high level discussions with United States (US) Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer. One of the several things they discussed pertains to Guyana’s western neighbour Venezuela, where the democratic process continues to be trampled on by the Nicolás Maduro regime.
Since the July 28, 2024 Presidential election in Venezuela, thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets protesting against Maduro’s declared victory over electoral irregularities. The state has also heavily cracked down on these protestors, all while refusing to release voting tally sheets to prove Maduro’s ‘victory’.
In a release from the White House, it was revealed that President Ali and National Security Advisor spoke on the telephone and shared their concerns regarding the violations of democratic practices in Venezuela following the election.

Also discussed were the ongoing efforts between the two countries to strengthen their bilateral relationship. Guyana and the US also reaffirmed their shared commitment to advance regional security, democracy and stability.
“They discussed the outcomes of the inaugural Guyana-U.S. Strategic Dialogue that was held in July, and additional concrete steps to contribute to Guyana’s economy, development and territorial integrity,” the release explained.
“Mr. Finer and President Ali agreed to continue collaboration with regional partners to restore security for the Haitian people, and ensure the success and sustainability of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti,” it added.
Guyana, along with Suriname, were the only two signatories from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), to sign on to a US led statement last month calling for the Nicolás Maduro regime to respect Venezuelans and their human rights amid its ongoing crackdown on dissidents
At the time, the Venezuelan Government had been escalating its crack down on the mass protests following the disputed July 28 elections. This escalation had prompted outcries from human rights groups, civil society and the Venezuelan opposition which maintains that the Maduro regime was defeated by a landslide in the polls.
The other countries signing on to the statement had included Argentina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Spain, Guatemala, Italy, Morocco, The Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Uruguay, Ukraine, the US and the European Union (EU).
Separately, Guyana has also issued its own calls for a transparent verification of the vote in Venezuela. Those calls were made by Guyana within days of the election, amid widespread claims of electoral fraud.
During the closing press conference of the 47th CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in St. Georges, Grenada on July 30, President Ali was asked by the Caribbean media about Guyana’s stance on the election and he had made it clear that he was supporting international calls, as well as calls from the Venezuelan opposition, for the process to be upheld.
“In an election there is a process. In that process you have what occurs before an election, what occurs on election day and what occurs after that. And throughout the process, there are laws and systems governing the process,” President Ali had said.
“Our statement is factual… every mechanism that is provided for in the electoral system, must be adhered to. And if there are calls, and there are calls from the international community and the opposition, for one aspect of that process to be activated, then we support that call because it is part of the electoral system.”
The leaders of other CARICOM countries have for the most part been reluctant to comment on the Venezuelan election. At that same closing press conference, CARICOM Chairman and Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell had described the Venezuelan elections as a “domestic matter” that CARICOM did not have to weigh in on.
Meanwhile, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves recently went as far as to say that Maduro being declared the winner of the election, was in the best interest of Guyana’s oil and gas sector. Gonsalves was also one of the first leaders in the region, to publicly congratulate Maduro on his “victory”.
Guyana and Venezuela currently have a border controversy being adjudicated at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as Venezuela has unjustly claimed two thirds of Guyana, comprising of the mineral rich Essequibo, as its own.
This year, the Maduro regime had also stepped up its aggressive tactics, including a military buildup on Venezuela’s border with Guyana… a fact that has been roundly condemned by the international community. (G3)