Venezuela: Jamaica accused of betrayal as America Moves to Oust Maduro & Install Pro-U.S. Leader in Oil-Rich Venezuela.
The Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Kamina Johnson Smith, disclosed on Tuesday, January 8th that the Jamaican Government will be moving to enact legislation to allow the government to take ownership of the 49 per cent stake in Petrojam that is held by Venezuelan state-owned oil company, PDVSA, through PDV Caribe.
Ms. Smith said the measures was taken to safeguard Jamaica’s energy sector, especially since Venezuela had not upheld its end of a more than 12-year-old agreement to upgrade the Petrojam oil refinery.
The parliamentary opposition People’s National Party (PNP) said it opposed what it described as a hostile “takeover” of the Venezuelan shares. They argued that the PetroCaribe Fund provided by the Government of Venezuela represented the largest loan to Jamaica, with the best financial terms in Jamaica’s independent history. The PNP went on to say, “At a one per cent interest rate, the Venezuelan government provided Jamaica more the US$3 billion. The Venezuelan government went even further and accepted a US$1.5 billion settlement of our debt in July 2015, which not only reduced our debt to GDP ratio significantly, but also helped to improve our international financial standing in aggregate terms”.
Source: Loop News: PetroCaribe is an energy co-operation agreement that was initiated by the Government of Venezuela to provide a preferential payment arrangement for petroleum and petroleum products to some Caribbean and Latin American countries. The organisation was established on June 29, 2005 when the agreement was signed by 14 Caribbean countries during the first energy summit of Caribbean heads of government in the city of Puerto La Cruz in eastern Venezuela.
The payment system allows for participating nations to buy oil at market value with only a portion of the cost being paid upfront, with the remainder to be paid through a 25-year financing agreement at one per cent interest.
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Kamina Johnson Smith
OAS Permanent Council Agrees “to not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro’s new term”
January 10, 2019
The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) today agreed “to not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro’s new term as of the 10th of January of 2019.” The resolution was approved with 19 votes in favor, 6 against, 8 abstentions and one absent. Jamaica joined the 18 other members of the Organization of American States (OAS) in voting not to recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s leader following presidential elections that were boycotted by the country’s opposition and was not recognized by the United States. Cuba, Russia, Mexico, China, Turkey and Bolivia recognized Maduro has the legitimate president of Venezuela.
The Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Kamina Johnson Smith, said on Thursday: “The Government of Jamaica, in supporting the resolution, acknowledges that the 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, remain pertinent considerations… like the several countries represented here. For us, our interest has always been, and continues to be, that of the well-being of the people of Venezuela. Jamaica stands ready to lend any support that may be deemed helpful, and that could facilitate renewed dialogue to alleviate the serious challenges facing Venezuela. Jamaica continues to support those principles.”
Democracy NOW with AMY GOODMAN
Source: Democracy NOW with AMYGOODMAN: The Venezuelan government is accusing the United States of staging a coup, after President Trump announced that the U.S. would recognize opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s new leader. Trump made the announcement shortly after Guaidó, the new head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, declared himself president during a large opposition protest. The European Union and the Lima Group have joined the U.S. in recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as president.
VICEPRESIDENTMIKEPENCE: Send a video message on behalf of President Donald Trump and all the American people, to express the unwavering support of the United States as you, the people of Venezuela, raise your voices in a call for freedom. Nicolás Maduro is a dictator with no legitimate claim to power.
After the Organization of American States (OAS) agreed “to not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro presidency, he responded swiftly by announcing a break in “diplomatic and political relations” with the United States, ordering American diplomats to leave the country within 72 hours. The United States, however, said it will defy the order for American diplomats to leave Caracas in 72 hours.