Jamaica Supports Dialogue in Resolving Situation in Venezuela – Johnson Smith

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, says Jamaica is in favour of dialogue in arriving at a resolution of the situation in Venezuela and rejects any attempt at international isolation of the country.

She noted that while there were differing views among CARICOM Member States at the recent Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) Meeting in Barbados, “we were united in our view that respect for certain fundamental values and principles, including the maintenance of the rule of law, respect for human rights and democracy, as well as non-intervention in the internal affairs of states, were valuable and pertinent in addressing the grave concerns we have about the situation in Venezuela”.

The Minister, who was speaking in the Senate on Friday (May 26), said the Government does not support “adverse utterances” on the issue by Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General, Luis Almagro.

“These comments have not been helpful in achieving a peaceful resolution of the current situation, and we have stated our position on this in more than one forum,” she pointed out.

There have been continuous demonstrations against the government of President Maduro, with protestors calling for his resignation and new elections.