US Embassy: Maduro to be blamed for crisis in Venezuela

PORT-OF-SPAIN (CMC):

The United States Embassy here has stated that the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and those who back him, must be blamed for the crisis facing the South American nation.

In a statement on Sunday, the Port-of-Spain-based embassy said the crisis is not due to sanctions as there are no sanctions or restrictions on the importation of food and medicines to Venezuela.

“There are no sanctions or restrictions on the importation of food and medicines to Venezuela while the Maduro regime uses its revenues to buy Russian weapons instead of food. The United States is the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance for the Venezuela regional crisis and has contributed more than US$1.2 billion to the cause since 2017 alone, including more than US$11 million to support Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts in helping Venezuelans living in the country.”

The statement added that the absence of a democratic system, ongoing systematic human rights violations, acute food shortages, precarious health systems, an electricity crisis, generalised violence, and economic collapse are some of the key causes that have forced more than five million Venezuelans to flee their country since 2015.

“Venezuela’s exodus under Maduro has become an unprecedented displacement crisis for the Western Hemisphere. Many continue to attempt to blame sanctions, but the Venezuelan economy was in free-fall long before the United States began to impose sanctions in August 2017.”

The statement follows the recent drowning of over 20 Venezuelan nationals, including women and children, who drowned near the Venezuelan coastal town of Guiria several days ago.

According to reports, the Venezuelan nationals were en route to Trinidad.

Last week, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said the government intends to introduce stiffer penalties to curb human trafficking and illegal trade.