Dear Editor,

There are two terms — oligarchy and imperialism — that define the problems faced by Nicolas Maduro’s new government in Venezuela.

Despite nearly 20 years of governance by socialist forces — first led by Hugo Chavez and now by Maduro — the Venezuelan oligarchy still dominates large sections of the economy, holds immense amounts of the country’s social wealth, and has resisted all attempts to expand political and economic democracy in the country.

Through the media it controls the political and social narrative, defining the nature of Venezuela’s crisis to its advantage. None of the problems are laid at its doorstep, nor at the United States’, both of which have tried to suffocate the Bolivarian Revolution since 1999.

Imperialism is a word that is rarely used these days. It is relegated to histories of colonialism in the distant past. But pressure on Venezuela has been intense. The US has repeatedly called for the overthrow of the socialist Government led by Maduro. Sanctions have been ratcheted up. Threats of a military invasion are in the air. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a tweet, wrote, “The time is now for a return to democracy in Venezuela,” which is an open suggestion for anything.

Buoyed by the election of far right-wing politicians such as Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, a group of Organisation of American States governments said that they would not recognise Maduro as the president of Venezuela. Behind them sits the US State Department, which has put pressure on the hemisphere for the isolation of Venezuela and the overthrow Maduro. What a disgrace that Jamaica should be part of that group.

The troops that Donald Trump is withdrawing from Syria might not be going home any time soon. They might find themselves deployed soon enough on the beaches of Punto Fijo, facing a Bay of Pigs-style resistance from the Chavistas.

Of course, it is not only Venezuela in the grips of oligarchy and imperialism, but also the Jamaican Government. Can someone say global kleptocracy?

Paul Ward

Campaign for Social Economic Justice

Kingston 7

pgward 72@gmail.com