CARIBBEAN-St. Vincent PM hoping for CARICOM statement on Venezuelan election

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC—St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves mentioned Monday that he hopes Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM) leaders will announce the result of the presidential elections in Venezuela.

Gonsalves, a staunch ally of President Nicolas Maduro, mentioned he has already issued a congratulatory message to the Venezuelan chief and is hoping that CARICOM leaders, who’re assembly right here for his or her forty seventh common assembly, will do the identical.

“Properly, I’ve already referred to as the Venezuelan authorities to congratulate them on the victory of Nicolas Maduro,” Gonsalves informed the Caribbean Media Company (CMC), including, “St. Vincent Grenadines goes to subject its assertion. Watch video 

Gonsalves mentioned that the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) has already began the elections.

“Properly, I count on many of the CARICOM nations as a result of important numbers of us are in ALBA, and I don’t doubt that assertion, which I’ve simply authorised, could be authorised.

“Some nations might want to wait and see. That can doubtless come up someday immediately, whether or not on this morning’s session or the caucus this afternoon. However I wish to see CARICOM make an announcement congratulating Maduro on his re-election to the presidency. He’s an vital companion for our area’s peace and safety, together with peace and safety on the border with Guyana.’

Guyana and Venezuela have a long-running border dispute, with each nations now awaiting a ruling from the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) on the matter.

Gonsalves informed CMC that the historical past of elections in Venezuela would point out that they’re free and honest, however within the final election, some nations claimed that the polls didn’t replicate the folks’s will.

Nonetheless, he famous that the US-based Carter Heart, as an illustration, reported that the Venezuelan election equipment is among the most subtle and clear in the whole world.

“However, you recognize, politics is taking priority in some quarters. However St. Vincent and the Grenadines, we’re glad, and I acquired a report from our folks on the bottom, together with my ambassador in Caracas, final evening. So, we congratulate Nicolas Maduro on his re-election to the presidency.

“Some nations might want to wait and see. That can doubtless come up someday immediately, whether or not throughout this morning’s session or the caucus this afternoon. However I wish to see CARICOM make an announcement congratulating Maduro on his re-election to the presidency. He’s an vital companion and important for peace and safety in our area, together with peace and safety on the border with Guyana.

In keeping with partial outcomes introduced by the top of the Nationwide Electoral Council (CNE), Elvis Amoroso—an in depth ally of Maduro—with 80 p.c of ballots counted, Maduro had 51% of the vote, in comparison with 44 p.c for his predominant rival.

Nonetheless, the opposition dismissed the CNE’s announcement as fraudulent and promised to problem the outcome.

It mentioned its candidate, Edmundo González, had received 70 p.c of the votes and insisted he was the rightful president-elect. Opposition events had united behind González to unseat Maduro after 11 years in energy.

Western nations have referred to as on Venezuela to make sure that Sunday’s ballot was free, honest, and clear.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed his skepticism after the outcome was introduced, saying the US had “critical considerations that the declared end result doesn’t replicate the need or the votes of the Venezuelan folks.”

As well as, the UK Overseas Workplace additionally expressed concern over the outcomes and has referred to as for the “publication of full, detailed outcomes to make sure that the result displays the votes of the Venezuelan folks.”

Obtain video – Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves

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