Venezuelan crisis could lead to regional instability – FITUG

… declares support for Venezuela’s constituent assembly

While stating its full support for the recently held election in neighbouring Venezuela, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has noted its concerns regarding the deteriorating situation in Venezuela which can lead to regional instability, and possibly spill over to the Caribbean region.
FITUG has therefore called on all democratic countries across the Region and beyond, to urge those who have taken a destructive path in that Latin American country to know that their actions will have far-reaching repercussions outside of Venezuela also, if they continue along that path.
“We urge those external forces to behave responsibly, to respect democracy and the people’s wisdom as expressed in the elections, to desist from stoking the fire and avoid – in words and deeds, that which can only promote the destabilisation of the country,” a statement from FITUG said.
Although there is much controversy surrounding the outcome of the elections there, FITUG said the resort to a constituent assembly in neighbouring Venezuela was a democratic effort by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at resolving the prolonged violence and living difficulties that have beset the country.
The trade union body saw the election there as a complimentary feat, considering that the coalition of Opposition parties – Democratic Unity Roundtable (Mesa de la Unidad Democrática) (MUD) – called for a boycott and the day itself saw several intermittent eruptions of violence in some states.
It was recognised that the election process also continued in spite of the strange call by the United States Administration not to proceed with the elections and even threatening sanctions. “The threat that the existing situation, instigated by extremists locally and financed by certain external forces, can deteriorate and lead to a civil war is ever-present,” FITUG asserted.
The trade union body said it is therefore important that countries of influence within the Region and which subscribe to democracy, show support for such efforts taken by Maduro.
In fact, FITUG pointed out that the election result has shown that over 8,000,000 Venezuelans voted for the constituent assembly, more than those who voted for Maduro in the 2013 elections which he won.
“This massive turnout by the Venezuelans is a strong manifestation by the people for an end to the ongoing unrest in their country and which is resulting in havoc with their lives and their future. Clearly, they braved the violence, were not influenced by the virulent media campaign, and defied the boycott call and disregarded the external threats and sanctions to let their stand be known,” FITUG said.
In light of the Opposition concerns regarding alleged fraud, FITUG said it awaits further evidence on this matter. The organisation stated that it is dismayed too by the US negative response to the election, particularly its additional sanctions against Maduro. “We note too, the similar negative sanctions from some countries which are known to be close allies of the US,” the statement added.
The elections for the constituent assembly proposed by Maduro, and which is provided for by the Venezuelan Constitution, were held on Sunday, July 30, 2017. The election in Venezuela was conducted by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council.