Foreign minister to attend OAS meeting on Venezuelan crisis

 

Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith has confirmed her attendance at the meeting of the Organisation of American States (OAS) next week in Washington DC, to discuss the situation in Venezuela.
    
The minister, who was speaking during Friday morning's sitting of the Senate, reiterated that Jamaica's support of the last OAS resolution did not constitute a vote against Venezuela.  
   
She said Jamaica regrets Venezuela's withdrawal from the OAS and will continue to reject any attempt to isolate the country.

"In the circumstances, Jamaica will continue to attend meetings of the OAS and to consult with member states so as to make our contribution to the formulation of well informed decisions," she affirmed.   

Meanwhile, Mark Golding, Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, called for the Jamaican government to present a clear position on the crisis in Venezuela.

  

Senator Golding said it was the lackadaisical approach of the OAS to the matter that led to Venezuela withdrawing from the organization.

 

He reiterated the opposition's stance that the Venezuelan government is legitimate as it was elected by the people of that country, and insisted the PNP would not support "any efforts to attempt to undermine the government there and the legitimate democratic process."

 

He urged the Government of Jamaica to be clear and definitive in its support for Venezuela and "avoid nice sounding but vague diplomatic speak in our public pronouncements and correspondence."