Caribbean countries including Belize abstain from OAS Venezuela election resolution 

By Aaron Humes: Guyana and Belize were among several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states that on Wednesday abstained from voting on a resolution at the Organisation of American States (OAS) calling for free and fair elections in Venezuela. 

They joined Barbados, Grenada, Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago. Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines voted against the resolution, while The Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica, and St. Lucia voted yes. 

In all, 21 countries voted Yes, 4 No, and 9 abstained. 

Guyana, like Belize, recognizes Nicolas Maduro as President of Venezuela rather than President of its National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, who is backed by the United States. 

Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders, said his country refused to support the resolution because it recognizes Mr. Guaidó as the President and Venezuela is not represented in the Western Hemispheric organization because the Nicolas Maduro administration had withdrawn that country.  

The U.S.’s permanent representative to the OAS was nonetheless satisfied that a majority called for democracy and human rights, saying the statement “demands democracy and human rights in Venezuela and to accept nothing less. We are pleased that the Venezuelan resolution condemns the illegitimate regime for undermining the democratic system.” 

Venezuela is set to hold legislative elections in December. It recently condemned a report to the UN Human Rights Council as biased against it and without foundation as to its many charges. 

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.

© 2020, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.