Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez (right) is embraced by St Vincent and the Grenadines' Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves upon Chávez's arrival in Kingstown in February 2007. Chavez called for greater unity between Caribbean countries and Venezuela to give effect to his "Bolivarian integration", which he said was necessary for the future socio-economic development of the region. - File

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent:

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has reiterated his support for the Venezuelan left-wing president, Hugo Chávez after his country accepted millions of dollars in equipment for the start of construction of an international airport in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

"These (equipment) would not be here if there were not a Bolivian revolution. These would not be here if there were no Hugo Chávez, so those who want to turn Chávez into some kind of monster, I am not going there with them. Because those who are demonising Chávez are not sending the equipment for us to build the international airport," Gonsalves said.

The Argyle International Airport is the flagship project of Gonsalves' seven-year-old administration and earlier this week 13 pieces of heavy-duty equipment, valued at US$5 million arrived from Panama and was funded by Caracas.

Cuba, Taiwan and Venezuela lead the list of what Gonsalves calls his "coalition of the willing", in the construction of the airport, originally estimated at US$200 million, but now reduced to US$120 million.

Gonsalves said St Vincent and the Grenadines would have to be "dotish or foolish" not develop a relationship with Venezuela, noting that countries that were critical of the administration in South American country were increasing their trade with the oil-rich country.