CARIBBEAN STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH VENEZUELA
WE, the undersigned citizens and leaders of civil society organizations of the Caribbean CALL upon our Governments and their multi-lateral organization-- the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) -- to take urgent steps to make it absolutely clear to the Government of the United States of America (USA) that the nations and people of the Caribbean consider Venezuela to be an integral sister nation of our Caribbean Civilization, and that we denounce and repudiate all attempts at illegal neo-imperialist interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela, including attempts to unlawfully attack, subvert and remove the democratically elected Government of President Nicolas Maduro and his United Socialist Party.
We make this CALL against the background of the impending 6th of December 2015 Parliamentary Elections of Venezuela and the clear evidence that has emerged of a permanent illicit conspiracy between the political establishment of the USA, elements of the traditional wealthy elite sector of Venezuelan society, and the right-wing political Opposition forces of Venezuela.
This CALL is also based on our understanding that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has emerged as an outstanding symbol of hope --- perhaps the pre-eminent symbol of hope -- for masses of people all over the world who suffer the exploitation, poverty, insecurity and indignity that is caused by national and international elites appropriating the resources and wealth that rightfully belong to the people, and who yearn for an alternative existence characterized by peace, humanity, freedom, national sovereignty, dignity, solidarity, brotherhood and human well-being.
We are aware that Venezuela's still unfolding Bolivarian Revolution has demonstrated to the world that it is possible for a determined people blessed with committed and patriotic leaders to rise up and assert themselves; to take control of their national resources; to use the nation's resources for the development of the people of the nation; and to extend their arms in a spirit of brotherhood and sharing to other nations and peoples.
The Bolivarian Revolution --- under the leadership of the late Hugo Chavez and current President Nicolas Maduro -- for the first time in Venezuela's history EFFECTIVELY nationalized the Petroleum industry, and directed the bulk of the country's enormous natural resources to developing programmes in public health, education, housing, and food security, thereby radically lowering the poverty rate, eradicating illiteracy, and elevating virtually all human development indicators in Venezuela.
Furthermore, the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela led the campaign to defeat the USA's neo-imperialist "Free Trade Area Of The Americas" and to establish in its stead the "prosper-thy-neighbor" Bolivarian Alliance For Latin America and the Caribbean (ALBA), the Petro Caribe Energy Cooperation Agreement, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the Africa-South America Summit, the International Bank of the South (Banco del Sur), and the Television Network of the South (Telesur), among many other initiatives.
These and other similar initiatives have -- among other things -- strengthened the spirit of cooperation between Venezuela and the rest of the Caribbean, thereby creating an environment which has equipped our Caribbean region to be able to resolve tensions which occasionally arise as a result of historically contested issues such as the border issue between Venezuela and Guyana, and to strive towards the fostering of a Caribbean zone of peace.
But we are only too aware that none of these historic achievements have gone uncontested by those forces that wish a return to the bad old days of US multi-nationals and a wealthy Venezuelan elite controlling and gorging themselves on the country's precious petroleum resources!!!
The Bolivarian Government and people of Venezuela have had to contend with a broad and open conspiracy involving the State Department of the US Government, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), USAID, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) and its powerful Latin American right-wing media conglomerates, and the Venezuelan elite and their "Opposition" political forces led by the likes of Leopoldo Lopez, Corina Machado and Antonio Ledezma.
This ongoing and implacable conspiracy against the Bolivarian Revolution has been manifested in such abominable acts as the 2001 sabotage of the petroleum industry of Venezuela; the 2002 unsuccessful coup against then President Hugo Chavez; a 15 year campaign to engineer commodity shortages in Venezuela; the permanent propaganda war waged by the right-wing media; the 2014 La Salida (The Exit) campaign of orchestrated violent street protests; President Obama officially declaring Venezuela to be a threat to the national security of the USA; the 2015 Operation Jericho attempt at a violent military coup against President Maduro; and the list goes on and on.
It is against this background that WE --- citizens and leaders of civil society organizations of the Caribbean -- are saying that enough is enough! This criminal imperialist subversion of our sister Caribbean nation of Venezuela must come to an end now!
NAME ORGANIZATION
1. David Comissiong Network In Defense Barbados
Of Humanity
(Caribbean Chapter)
2. Don Rojas Black World 21st U S A
Century
3. David Denny Friends of Venezuela Barbados
Solidarity Committee
4. Lalu Hanuman Network in Defense of Barbados
Humanity (Car. Chapter)
5. Keith Ellis Jose Marti Cultural Canada
Alliance
6. Felipe Noguera Caribbean Pan-African Trinidad &
Network Tobago
7. Min. P. D. Memelik World Africa Diaspora USA
Union
8. Khafra Kambon Caribbean Pan-African Trinidad &
Network Tobago
9. Keith Layne Caribbean Movement for Barbados
Peace and Integration
10. Cheryl Hunte Israel Lovell Foundation Barbados
11. Onkpha Wells, Pan African Coalition of Barbados
Organizations
12. John Howell Ile Ifa Ati Orisa Barbados
13. Trevor Prescod MP Israel Lovell Foundation Barbados
14. Benedict Wachira Kenya/Venezuela Solidarity Kenya
Association
15. Gerald Perreira Organization for the Victory Guyana
of the People
16. Russell Bell Network in Defense of Jamaica
Humanity (Car. Chapter)
17. Bobby Clarke Peoples Empowerment Barbados
Party
18. Alicia Jrapko International Committee for USA
Peace, Justice & Dignity
19.Terence Marryshow Network in Defense of Grenada
Humanity (Car. Chapter)
20. Line Hilgros Sixieme Region de l'Union Guadeloupe
Africaine Zone Caraibe
Francophone
21. Colin "Jah Bone" Antigua & Barbuda Reparations Antigua
Cumberbatch Support Commission
22. Cikiah Thomas Global Afrikan Congress Canada
23. Esther Stanford- Pan- Afrikan Reparations U K
Xosei Coalition in Europe
24. Kofi Mawuli Klu Pan- Afrikan Reparations U K
Coalition in Europe
25. Garcin Malsa Mouvement International Martinique
Martinique pour les Reparations
26. Sidney Francis ADEPHCA Nicaragua
27. Muhammad Nassar Barbados/Venezuela Barbados
Ass. of Business &
Commerce
28. Anne Brathwaite Justice for Walter Rodney U K
Campaign
29. Isis Amlak Global Afrikan Congress U K
30. Marta Johnson Afro Costa Rican Costa Rica
Research Centre
31. Gerrit Antrobus Network in Defense Barbados
of Humanity
(Car. Chapter)
32. Iraklis Tsavdaridis General Secretary of the Greece
World Peace Council
33. Ras Miguel Lorne General Secretary of the Jamaica
Marcus Garvey Peoples
Political Party
34. Ezemoo Yahya African Revolutionary Nigeria
Movement
35. Fuad Abu Bakr New National Vision Trinidad &
Tobago
36. Mario Molina Org. of Solidarity of the Cuba
Peoples of Africa, Asia
and Latin America
37. Robert Sae Conseil National des Martinique
Comites Populaires de
Martinique
38. Kay Grazette Pan-African Coalition Barbados
Of Organizations
39. Aisha Comissiong Clement Payne Barbados
Movement
40. Zakiya Uzoma-Wadada Caribbean Pan-African Trinidad &
Network Tobago
41. Rawle Harvey Humanistic Solidarity St. Lucia
Association (St. Lucia/
Cuba)
42. Donna Mc Farlane National Commission Jamaica
On Reparations
43. Harold Drayton Justice for Walter U S A
Rodney Campaign
44. Adiel Batson National Council for the Barbados
U N Decade for People
of African Descent
45. James Early Institute for Policy U S A
Studies
46. Camille Chalmers Executive Director of Haiti
Plate-forme haitienne
de Plaidoyer pour un
Developpement Alternatif
(PAPDA)
47. Angella "Ideisha" Jackson Director of the St Vincent
Lazaras Foundation
48. Ayo Ololara Network in Defense Barbados
of Humanity
(Car. Chapter)
49. Yamil Eduardo Cuban Institute for Cuba
Martinez Marrero Friendship with the
Peoples
50. Sandrine Haguy Culture Caribbean France
51. Ras Yacob Laurent Vice-President of St. Vincent
Jacobs Inivershall Rastafari Grenadines
Movement Inc.
52. Empress Modupe Education Officer of St. Vincent
Olufunmi- Jacobs Inivershall Rastafari
Movement Inc.
53. Nadia Raveles Foundation Koni-Ku- Suriname
Libi
54. Michael Jones International Sagacious Barbados
Community of Positive
Endeavours
55. Suzanne Laurent Martinique National Martinique
Reparations Commission
56. NswtMwt Chenzira Caribbean Pan-African U S Virgin
Davis Kahina Network Islands
57. NswNeb KaRa Per Ankh M Smai Tawi U S Virgin
HerishetaPaHeru Islands
58. Sadia Acosta Brooks Network In Defense of Cuba
Humanity (Cuba Chapter)
59. Nesw Neb Asarkasaamsu Per Ankh M Smai Tawi US Virgin
Herishetapaheru Islands
60. Theresa Reece Clement Payne Barbados
Movement
61. Femi Cheeseman Clement Payne Barbados
Movement
62. Jamila Reece Clement Payne Barbados
Movement
63. Akins Vidale Network In Defense Trinidad &
Of Humanity Tobago
(Caribbean Chapter)
64. Viola Plummer December 12th U S A
Movement
65. Roger Wareham International Association U S A
Against Torture
