The Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration (CMPI), who represented Barbados and the Caribbean in the International Solidarity Forum WE ARE ALL VENEZUELA, held between March 7 and 11 in Caracas, Venezuela, has disseminated the entire text of this important document, which was approved by 245 international delegates from the 5 continents of the planet; 116 from Latin America, 33 from the Caribbean, 43 from North America, 19 from Africa and a combined total of 34 from Europe and Asia; The Declaration has also received the support of a broad cross-section of Caribbean civil society, many of which have attached their names to the text of the Declaration. See below for its content, which was delivered by the WCIP Coordinator, David Comissiong:
We, men and women, citizens from different countries, social movements and organizations, political parties, women, youth, workers, creators and intellectuals, peasants and religious people, gathered in the city of Caracas on March 5, 6 and 7, 2018, reaffirm our solidarity with and activist support to the Venezuelan people, to the Bolivarian Revolution, and to its people´s government led by comrade Nicolas Maduro Moros.
We strongly reject the very serious escalation of aggressions against the democracy and sovereignty of Venezuela by the warmongering government of Donald Trump, the global corporate powers and the military industrial apparatus of United Statesimperialism, which intend to overthrow the legitimate Government of Venezuela, destroy the project of Bolivarian democracy, and seize the resources of the Venezuelan homeland.
We denounce the fact that this operation against Venezuela is part of a global neo-colonization strategy directed against Latin America and the Caribbean, which aims at imposing on our peoples a new era of vassalage and looting through the reinstating of the shameful Monroe Doctrine-- a plan already under execution in several countries of the continent.
We reject the threat made by Donald Trump to carry out an eventual military intervention in Venezuela, and we warn that such statements are not mere posturing. The military option against the Bolivarian Revolution is part of the U.S. geopolitical strategy and doctrine for the 21st century. The world must be aware of the fact that a military aggression against Venezuela might cause a crisis of historical dimensions and of uncountable and unpredictable human, economic and ecological effects in the region.
We warn the imperialist Establishment and the lackey elites who follow their lead as follows : The peoples of Latin America, the Caribbean and the world are never going to permit Venezuela to be stamped upon by the U.S. military boot ! If, as a result of their insane obsession, the Washington hawks dare to attack Simon Bolivar’s Homeland, it will be, once more-- as it was 200 years ago --the grave of an empire.
We denounce the blatant pressure inflicted on governments of the region by the U.S. empire in order to involve them in political, diplomatic, and even military operations against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Such action is designed to destroy the regional integration and to implicitly abolish the principle established in the foundational charter of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) that declares the region as a Zone of Peace.
We reject the shameful and anti-historical behaviour of those governments of the region that have knelt down in obedience to Washington´s policies through the creation of illegal and spurious formations such as the so-called Lima Group of states. The pitiful regional elites that lead the way in the looting of their peoples, undermine their nations' sovereignty in favour of transnational interests, increase the poverty and inequality levels of their countries, and violate human rights, lack any kind of moral and political authority to challenge Venezuelan democracy.
We reject the unilateral and illegal sanctions that have been imposed against the Venezuelan people by the United States of America and the European Union, and which are designed to destroy Venezuela’s economy and subdue its democratic will. Such blockades and sanctions are crimes against humanity committed by the international capitalist system and are seriously impacting on the Venezuelan people by sabotaging Venezuela's productive, financial and commercial processes, and by preventing access to food, medicines and staple goods.
We reject the mean spirited U.S. sabotage of the dialogue process held in the Dominican Republic between the Bolivarian government and several Opposition forces, and reiterate that the only path to the recovery of the political coexistence between Venezuelans is the path of full respect for the sovereignty of Venezuela, non-interference in its internal affairs, sincere dialogue, and electoral processes based on Venezuelan legislation.
In this regard, we welcome the scheduling of presidential, state lawmakers and councilmen elections for May 20th 2018, which is the result of a political agreement with a sector of the Venezuelan opposition. The Venezuelan people will transparently and sovereignly decide the course of the Venezuelan Homeland by these absolutely legitimate and constitutional elections.
We alert the peoples of the world to the malicious intention of governments and international organizations that are directly involved in warfare against Venezuela to refuse to recognize the results of the elections scheduled to be held on May 20th, and to increase their attacks against what will undoubtedly be an authentic democratic expression of the Venezuelan people.
We welcome and endorse the Declaration of the Presidential Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our America (ALBA-TCP) that categorically rejects the exclusion of Venezuela from the next Summit of the Americas slated to be held in Lima, Peru. Likewise, we support all the diplomatic and political actions undertaken by governments, countries, and peoples to defend the political plurality and diversity of our continent, and to safeguard the sovereignty and self-determination of our peoples.
We recognize the heroic resistance of the Venezuelan people against the onslaught of the economic aggression, the financial blockade, and all other forms of sabotage endured by Venezuela, and we support the economic, financial, political and diplomatic strategy implemented by the Bolivarian Government and President Nicolas Maduro, to overcome these problems and to build the humanist model of Bolivarian Socialism.
We commit ourselves to continue fighting for the truth,for peace, and for the sovereignty of Venezuela, constantly expanding the bonds of friendship, solidarity and revolutionary commitment with the Venezuelan people. All the peoples of the world who fight for the just causes of humanity walk side by side with the Bolivarian Revolution, its leadership and its people, and will always do so.
We are convinced that Venezuela will manage to overcome the problems that it is facing by means of dialogue, respect for the Constitution, and the unwavering democratic will of its people. We are also convinced that the Bolivarian Revolution will continue to be a beacon of hope for the peoples of the world in the search for a worthy and just destiny for humanity.
By commemorating the fifth anniversary of the transition of Commander Hugo Chavez, historical leader of the Venezuelan people, from the city of Caracas we say to the world: Venezuela is not alone, we all stand by it !
We are all Venezuela!
We shall prevail!
Caracas, March 7th, 2018
ENDORSED BY :
1. Caribbean Peace Movement
2. Caribbean Chapter of the International Network in Defense of Humanity
3. Clement Payne Movement of Barbados.
4. Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration (CMPI)
5. Jamaica Peace Council
6. Global Afrikan Congress
7. Caribbean Pan-African Network (CPAN)
8. Peoples Empowerment Party (Barbados)
9. Pan-African Coalition of Organizations
10. Jamaica/Cuba Friendship Association
11. Jamaica LANDS
12. Israel Lovell Foundation of Barbados
13. Organization for the Victory of the People (Guyana)
14. Robert "Bobby" Clarke (Barbados)
15. Dr. Tennyson Joseph (St Lucia / Barbados)
16. Ivana Cardinale (Venezuela)
17. David Denny (Barbados)
18. Wayne "Onkphra" Wells (Barbados)
19. Gerald Perreira (Guyana)
20 Black Consciousness Movement of Guyana
21. David Comissiong (Barbados)
22. Myrtha Delsume (Haiti / Jamaica)
23 Anthony "Gabby" Carter (Barbados)
24. Cuban /Barbadian Friendship Association
25. Friends of Venezuela Solidarity Committee (Barbados)
26. Haiti / Jamaica Society
27. Khafra Kambon (Trinidad and Tobago)
28. Ayo Moore (Barbados)
29. Margaret Harris (Barbados)
30. New National Vision of Trinidad and Tobago
31. Cheryl Hunte (Barbados)
32. John Howell (Barbados)
33. Edson Crawford (Barbados)
34. Christophe Simpson (Jamaica)
35. International Movement for Reparations (Martinique)
36. Akram Sabree (Guyana)
37. Thelma Gill-Barnett (Barbados)
38. Errol Paul (Guyana)
39. Ana Polyte (St Lucia)
40. Lalu Hanuman (Barbados / Guyana)
41. Garcin Malsa (Martinique)
42. National Committee for Reparations (Martinique)
43. Aisha Comissiong (Barbados)
44. Selrach Belfield (Guyana)
45. Ingrid Blackwood (Jamaica)
46. Glenroy Watson ( United Kingdom / Jamaica)
47. Paul Works (Jamaica)
48. Lee Bing (Guyana)
49. Anthony Fraser (Guyana)
50. Cedric Jones (Guyana)
51. Michael Heslop (Jamaica)
52. Junior Jervis (Guyana)
54. Cikiah Thomas (Canada / Jamaica)
55. Troy Pontin (Guyana)
56. Trevor Prescod, Member of Parliament (Barbados)
57. Dr Keith Ellis (Jamaica / Canada)
58. Charlene Wilkinson (Guyana)
59. Dr. Najuma Comissiong (Barbados)
60. December 12th Movement (USA)
61. Russell Bell (Jamaica)
62. Evelyn Brown (Canada / Jamaica)
63. Patrick Hunter (Canada / Jamaica)
64. Basil Thomas (Canada / Jamaica)
65. Hope Mc Nish (Jamaica)
66. Trevor Browne (Jamaica)
67. Hamilton Lashley (Barbados)