Wed | May 6, 2026

Venezuela - 205 years and counting

Published:Tuesday | July 12, 2016 | 12:00 AMJody-Anne Lawrence
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Darien Robertson
Chargé d'Affaires of Venezuela Luisa Gutierrez and Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck toast to a great diplomatic relationship.
Darien Robertson
Major General Antony Anderson (left) and Minister Peter Phillips pauses their conversation to take a photo at Venezuela's National Day celebration.
Darien Robertson
Honorary Consul for Latvia Robert Scott and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade's Ann-Margaret Lim are caught in candid banter.
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From left: Howard Chamberlain, Nashawn Frazer, and Ansel Pulchan lend their support to the Venezuelan Embassy on its 205th independence celebration.
Darien Robertson
Anna Wakamatsu (left) and Michelle Ross McGregor smile for the camera.
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Minister Anthony Hylton is well complemented by his wife Yodit at the Venezuelan National Day celebration.
Darien Robertson
From left: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade's Kadija Richards, Russian Embassy's Andrey Dryakin, CariCRIS' Michelle Kandasammy, along with Kesi Asher, makes a beautiful photo.
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It has been 205 years since the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela claimed their independence and the movement by Simon Bolivar is still recognised today.

The celebration of their National Day was held at The Jamaica Pegasus where well wishers and diplomats came out in their numbers to give their support. After the playing of the Jamaican and Venezuelan national anthems, Venezuelan Charges d'Affaires Luisa Gutierrez gave a beautiful and informative speech taking us back to 1811 in Caracas, Venezuela.

It was Simon Bolivar, however, who was responsible for the close diplomatic relation. During exile, he came to Jamaica and wrote 'the Letter of Jamaica', where he first called unity of the nations, 'the need of Unity of Latin-American and Caribbean Countries in order to achieve the Great Homeland: 'Nuestra America'," mentioned Gutierrez.

The brief history lesson was something that we all appreciated and Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck expressed his sentiments about the relationship. It is one that has grown and is evident through the teaching of Spanish at the Venezuelan Embassy and the PetroCaribe agreement.

The night was not all about formalities. There was meeting and greeting with fine wine and food among friends before departing to their homes.