Caricom insta a EEUU a eliminar sanciones contra Venezuela
Caricom insta a EEUU a eliminar sanciones contra Venezuela
La Comunidad del Caribe (Caricom) acordó el martes exigir al gobierno de Estados Unidos a que se eliminen las medidas coercitivas unilaterales contra Venezuela para permitir que los países caribeños reciban suministros vía PetroCaribe.
Así lo exigieron en una declaración que se hizo pública al cierre de la 43 reunión regular de la Conferencia de Jefes de Estado y Gobierno de la Caricom, que se celebró desde el domingo hasta el martes en Surinam.
El documento también señala que con el levantamiento de las sanciones buscan poder avanzar en la explotación de los recursos naturales transfronterizos, entre ellos los yacimientos de gas entre Trinidad y Tobago y Venezuela.
El primer ministro de San Vicente y las Granadinas, Ralph Gonsalves, subrayó los efectos de las medidas coercitivas unilaterales contra Venezuela en relación al programa Petrocaribe.
“Las sanciones unilaterales impuestas por la administración de Estados Unidos durante la época del presidente Donald Trump en relación con Venezuela (que) pusieron fin en la práctica al acuerdo Petrocaribe», dijo.
Subrayó además la afectación que la medida ha provocado en “varios países del Caribe, incluidos los países independientes de la OEA, y otros países dentro de la Caricom”.
Caricom está conformado por Antigua y Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belice, Dominica, Granada, Guyana, Haití, Jamaica, Montserrat, San Cristóbal y Nieves, Santa Lucía, San Vicente y las Granadinas, Surinam y Trinidad y Tobago.
CARICOM to engage US on dropping sanctions against Venezuela as member states eye new PetroCaribe deal
Several CARICOM countries, led by St. Vincent and the Grenadines have agreed to revive the Petro Caribe deal with Venezuela, a deal that began back in 2005 and saw countries in Central America and the Caribbean purchasing oil directly from Venezuela on conditions of preferential payment.
The deal collapsed when the United States imposed tough sanctions on Venezuela in 2019, sending that country’s economy in to tailspin.
Now, with the energy challenges facing the world and the rise in fuel prices, several CARICOM countries want to bank on Venezuela once again for their energy needs.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves at a press conference at the closing of the CARICOM heads meeting in Suriname yesterday.
“Ten weeks ago I was in Caracas and I spoke with President Maduro about the resumption of the PetroCaribe arrangement and in fact, the decision has been made for the resumption of it with all things being equal with a 35% off the top—upfront, so clearly we want to go and get this,” Mr. Gonsalves said.
Gonsalves said that CARICOM countries that relied heavily on the Petrocaribe arrangement suffered when it came to an end.
According to the Vincentian Prime Minister, although the U.S has sanctioned Venezuela, in recent times, it has been looking to Caracas for energy products itself. He said CARICOM cannot afford to be left out, given what is happening globally.
It was to this end Prime Minister Gonsalves noted that CARICOM will indulge the US, to drop its sanctions against Venezuela.
“We are not doing this in any combative way, we are not doing this in any confrontational way, there is a dialogue, a conversation between friends—Caricom and the United States of America and the Venezuelans are also our friends so this is how mature and responsible leaders are trying to address an issue which is very much in front of us,” Gonsalves noted.
A number of CARICOM states, including Guyana, have been grappling with the rising price of fuel and fuel products globally. Some countries have been forced to remove import taxes in an effort to cushion the effects of the high oil prices.
