ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) — Dominica on Friday blamed economic sanctions by the United States and Canada for setting “the stage for the worsening” socio-economic and political environment in Venezuela as it reaffirmed its commitment to non-interference in the internal affairs of the South American country.

President Charles Savarin, speaking at a ceremony where the new Venezuelan Ambassador to Dominica  Jose Durabio Moros Saveilli  presented his credentials, said that “Dominica will continue to stand in solidarity with Venezuela in defence of its rights and sovereignty and the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of sovereign states’.

Savarin said that the imposition of sanctions against Venezuela by Washington in 2015 and by the US and Canada jointly two years later, had set the stage for the unfolding economic and political situation in the country.

“In the wake of the presidential elections of May 2018 there has been a concerted effort to delegitimize the duly elected government instead of engaging in dialogue and negotiations to thrash out differences, internally, regionally and internationally,” Savarin added.

The United States and its allies are leading efforts to remove President Nicolas Maduro from office and are supporting the Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó, who has declared himself the interim president of the South American country.

CARICOM leaders at their inter-sessional summit in St Kitts-Nevis last month had reiterated their position of non-interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela and said they were prepared to mediate in the process to bring about a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

The new Venezuelan diplomat said in “this difficult time” Caracas has become more aware of its friends, adding “we could not be more grateful and be more proud of the dignified position…and statements that have been maintained by the people of Dominica.

“We welcome the statement issued by the Caribbean Community when it stated its position. The people of Venezuela must be allowed to decide their own future in accordance with the principle of the United Nations Charter, non-intervention, non-interference, prohibition of threat and use of force and furthermore the CARICOM’s concern for the escalation of tension in the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela and the ensuing hardship and suffering of the population exacerbated by the imposition of sanctions”.