Prime Minister of Vincent and the Grenadines Defends Nicolas Maduro’s Leadership

PM Gonsalves Believes Maduro’s Leadership Benefits Guyana’s Oil Sector

Prime Minister of Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, believes that having Nicolas Maduro as the president of Venezuela is in the best interest of the government of Guyana’s oil sector. Gonsalves made this statement during a visit to Guyana to attend the funeral of Sir Shridath Ramphal, a late Guyanese and international statesman.

Gonsalves explained that Venezuelans, by rejecting the right-wing opposition, implemented a move that redounded to the security of Guyana’s rapidly developing oil industry. He advised choosing Maduro over the right wing, stating that the right wing would seek to allow the Americans to take over Venezuela’s oil industry and try to run Guyana’s oil industry from Caracas.

Gonsalves also vowed never to side with Venezuela to take military action to seize Guyana’s Essequibo Region. He emphasized the importance of peace between Venezuela and Guyana, stating that any problems should be solved through dialogue and not military action.

St Vincent and the Grenadines and Brazil Instrumental in Peace Efforts

St Vincent and the Grenadines and Brazil were instrumental in getting Presidents Ali and Maduro to agree to the Argyle Declaration for Dialogue and Peace. Gonsalves claimed that the right wing had been taunting Maduro, telling Venezuelans that their President had to compromise with Guyana because they had friends in the Caribbean like the Vincentian leader.

PM Gonsalves Defends Election Results

Gonsalves defended his declaration that Venezuela’s July 28, 2024 elections were “fair and free” based on the United States’ historical posture towards elections. He stated that America cannot teach him about elections and democracy, as he has witnessed the toppling of democratically elected governments in the past.

US Ambassador Expresses Disappointment

However, United States’ Ambassador to Guyana and CARICOM, Nicole Theriot, expressed disappointment that other regional bloc nations had not inked the joint statement calling for a verification of the ballots cast in Venezuela’s elections. Guyana and Suriname, which are both attracting major United States investments in their oil sectors, had signed on to the joint statement.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Prime Minister Gonsalves believes that Nicolas Maduro’s leadership benefits Guyana’s oil sector and that any problems should be solved through dialogue and not military action. He defended his declaration that Venezuela’s elections were “fair and free” and emphasized the importance of peace between Venezuela and Guyana.

FAQs

Q: Why does PM Gonsalves believe Maduro’s leadership benefits Guyana’s oil sector?
A: PM Gonsalves believes that Maduro’s leadership benefits Guyana’s oil sector because Venezuelans, by rejecting the right-wing opposition, implemented a move that redounded to the security of Guyana’s rapidly developing oil industry.

Q: What is the Argyle Declaration for Dialogue and Peace?
A: The Argyle Declaration for Dialogue and Peace is a declaration signed by Presidents Ali and Maduro to promote dialogue and peace between Venezuela and Guyana.

Q: Why did PM Gonsalves defend his declaration that Venezuela’s elections were “fair and free”?
A: PM Gonsalves defended his declaration that Venezuela’s elections were “fair and free” based on the United States’ historical posture towards elections and his own lifetime experience of witnessing the toppling of democratically elected governments.