GUYANA STANDS OUT AS CARICOM SPLITS OVER VENEZUELA

GUYANA is standing out independently as cracks emerge in Caricom over the Venezuelan presidential election.

Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali has called for a transparent confirmation of the result of last Sunday’s election between incumbent Nicolas Maduro and challenger Edmundo Gonzalez Urrrutia.

Dr. Ali urged that “the integrity of the process” must be upheld “through the highest standards of accountability, transparency and strict adherence to the rule of law…”

This was the firmest autonomous comment from among the 15 Caricom leaders on the election, in which Maduro is controversially claiming victory.

Caricom leaders, meeting in Grenada under just-come hometown leader Dickon Mitchell, did not release a statement on the poll results.

Mitchell engaged in semantics, declaring that “it is not Caricom’s position to come and say that there ought to be verification of any country’s election.”

But Dr. Ralph Gonzales, veteran Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, had no such qualms and made a congratulatory call to Maduro.

“St. Vincent and the Grenadines will issue its own statement,” Gonzales said, tossing away Caricom diplomacy.

Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit was equally emphatic.

Skerrit said: “The entity which oversees and governs the elections in Venezuela has indicated that President Maduro has been re-elected.”

On that basis, “we extend our congratulations…”

St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Phillip Pierre said: “The results that have been declared say that President Maduro has won.’

Notably, Trinidad and Tobago, which has critical natural gas exploration contracts with Venezuela, has stayed mum.

Guyana’s position aligns with that of most countries, including Latin nations and the United States.

Street protests are taking place in Venezuela, as thousands of nationals challenge the results.

Several protestors have been killed and thousands have been tear-gassed.

The Joe Biden administration in the US is closely monitoring developments, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his country has “serious concerns” about the announced results.

The highly-regarded Carter Centre, which monitors international elections, said the result “cannot be considered democratic.”

Of note is that Gustavo Pedro, the leftist President of Colombia, has called for a “transparent vote count.’