Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis:
CARICOM HEADS of government will meet today with a special envoy from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to discuss that country's bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Roy Chaderton, a former Foreign Minister of Venezuela, flew into St. Kitts to attend the 27th Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government held at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. CARICOM leaders normally vote en bloc on foreign policy issues.
Speaking to The Gleaner, Mr. Chaderton remained tight-lipped over the issue which has added to an ongoing war of words with the United States as Venezuela seeks to expand its influence in the region.
AGAINST SUPPORTING VENEZUELA
Jamaica's Opposition Leader, Bruce Golding, has come out strongly against supporting Venezuela, a decision he says could jeopardise relations with the U.S., which has been applying pressure on regional governments to support its choice, Guatemala.
However, in a speech last week, President Chavez insisted Venezuela would persevere.
"The United States walks the world day and night ... trying to terrorise others so that Venezuela won't get selected in October," Mr. Chavez told a graduation of military officers in Caracas. "We accept the challenge from the empire."
The two-year rotating seat, which is reserved for Latin America and the Caribbean, will become vacant in October.
The meeting between Mr. Chaderton and CARICOM heads will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Nevis where they will be taking a one-day retreat to reach decisions on their discussions this week. They will also hear a presentation from Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips, on funding for security preparations for Cricket World Cup 2007, as well as a presentation by René Preval, President of newly-readmitted Haiti.
