CARICOM Countries Express ‘Disapproval and Grave Concern’ Over Almagro Actions

Dear Secretary-General

The Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held a Special Emergency Meeting on the Conference on Thursday, 24 January 2019 to discuss the ongoing situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Those in attendance were the Heads of Government of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, and the Foreign Ministers of Grenada and Suriname.

Heads of Government mandated me as Chairman of the Conference, to write to you to express our disapproval and grave concern with regard to the position that you, in your capacity as Secretary-General, have adopted, by recognising the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as Interim President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This action on your part, without the authority of the Member States of the Organisation of American States (OAS), is considered inappropriate.

The Heads of Government consider it imperative that you publicly clarify that you did not speak on behalf of all the Member States of the Organisation of American States. We are aware that this is not the only occasion in which you have made public utterances in the name of the Organisation without authority. This type of unilateral action by a Head of an International Organisation, whose membership comprises sovereign States, is a clear departure from normal practice and cause for great concern.

Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Venezuelanalysis editorial staff.