GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP):

The Caribbean should not support Venezuela's bid for a seat on the U.N. Security Council because the South American country would hinder the group's ability to prevent terrorism and control nuclear proliferation, a U.S. official said yesterday.

Most of the Caribbean Community, which has 14 United Nations votes, is expected to back Venezuela for a two-year non-permanent seat on the Security Council. Washington wants to keep Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a fierce U.S. critic, from winning a high-profile platform for his views.

The U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, David Robinson, said voting for Venezuela would be a mistake.

"This vote matters and is one we should take seriously with the future in mind and not try to signal symbolic displeasure with the U.S.," he told The Associated Press.

The Caribbean Community has said it will back Chavez because of his financial support to the region. Many are also frustrated with the support given by Guatemala - the other contender for the U.N. seat - to dismantle a preferential banana trade program and its border dispute with Belize, a Caricom member.

Guatemalan Foreign Minister Gert Rosenthal worried in August that U.S. support was hurting his country's bid in places like the Caribbean, where some leaders had complained about U.S. involvement in the race. Other Caribbean nations, such as Haiti, remain undecided.

The issue is expected to be decided Oct. 16 by a secret vote in the U.N.'s 192-member General Assembly. Two-thirds of the vote are needed to win.