CARICOM leaders will rely on “some basic principles” when it comes to the issue of the unfolding political situation in Venezuela, but the matter is “not on the agenda” for their annual summit that begins in Grenada today, CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque has said.
“The agenda for the Heads of Government meeting will be adopted on Wednesday morning and I guess we will see what emerges out of that agenda. Currently the issue of the situation in Venezuela is not inscribed on the agenda,” LaRocque told a news conference yesterday, ahead of the summit.
Opposition supporters have been taking to the streets in Caracas demanding the removal of President Nicolas Maduro. The demonstrations have resulted in the deaths of several Venezuelans.
But CARICOM appeared to be divided on the issue with St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica among those regional countries urging the Caribbean not to interfere in the internal affairs of the South American country.
