OUTGOING United States ambassador to Jamaica Luis Moreno says that the US is banking on the continued support of Jamaica, and other partners in the region, in finding a peaceful resolution to the political conflict in Venezuela.
Moreno, who was scheduled to leave the island yesterday after approximately 2 1/2 years as ambassador, admitted, however, that the United States is disappointed with the position taken by some of Jamaica’s Caribbean Community (Caricom) partners, in either voting against or abstaining from the vote on an Organization of American States (OAS)-led resolution last week in Mexico.
Jamaica voted with 20 of the 34 member countries of the OAS in support of the resolution, which called on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to respect the human rights of his opponents and engage them in a process of dialogue to end the crisis.
However, the resolution failed to pass at last week’s OAS 47th General Assembly in Mexico, as it needed three more votes. A number of Caricom countries abstained or voted against the resolution.
“I was not surprised the way Jamaica’s stance was. I don’t know whether there was some kind of glitch why things were not communicated very clearly, and why some people were unaware about what is happening in Venezuela,” Moreno said.
“The bottom line is people are still in dire straits in Venezuela. People are dying in Venezuela, and people are taking tremendously dangerous voyages out of Venezuela; not to escape the regime, but to buy food,” Moreno said.
“The shelves are bare and the abuse of political prisoners and the consolidation of power, which borders on dictatorship is right there,” he insisted.
“I can tell you that we hope that Jamaica and our partners in the region will continue to strive to find a peaceful, moderate solution to the difficulties, to ease the suffering of the Venezuelan people and to find a democratic solution to the problems,” he said.
Moreno has also denied US interference in the crisis.
“The Americans did not set the economic realities which have resulted in bare shelves throughout Venezuela. It certainly has not been American manipulation which has been forcing hundreds and thousands of people into the streets,” Moreno said.
He said that Jamaica has been playing the role of a “positive, moderating force” in the OAS peace process without any pressures from the United States Government.
“I am not saying that we don’t call the foreign minister and say, ‘hey, that vote that is coming up, we really hope that we can count on you’. That’s what embassies and people do, and have discussions and exchange ideas.
“But Jamaica is well aware that the Jamaican people and the Venezuelan people have a very close bond, and what is happening in Venezuela is truly tragic right now,” he stated.
“Yes, there are economic realities. Yes, there is PetroCaribe. But Jamaica is talking a very principled, ethical, forward-leaning stance and really demonstrating true leadership in the whole Venezuelan thing, and I can tell you the United States is very pleased with that,” Moreno told the Jamaica Observer in a recent interview.
Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith has said that the Government is urging all parties in Venezuela to commit to renewed dialogue and negotiation towards a comprehensive political agreement with concrete actions and guarantees to ensure its implementation for the well-being of the country and its people.
She said that the Jamaican Government is “gravely concerned by the continued deterioration of the situation in Venezuela”.