Dear Editor,

Former Prime Minister Bruce Golding went on quite a rant recently, blasting US President Donald Trump for capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a dictator, with alleged ties to drug cartels and terrorist groups and a blatant record of human rights abuse in his country. The irony is that most Venezuelans celebrated the capture, including those who live outside the country.

Venezuelans have suffered under the dictatorship of Maduro for years, experiencing extreme economic hardships, high inflation, business collapse, food shortage, and starvation. In 2021 it was reported that as many as 95 per cent of Venezuelans lived in poverty and 77 per cent lived in extreme poverty. The economic collapse began under former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and worsened under Maduro.

Millions have migrated in recent years, and according to the UN, some 25 per cent of Venezuelans require humanitarian assistance. In life we cling to hope that if we are ever in dire need, someone, somewhere, will be there to help us.

Under Maduro there was suppression of the press, manipulation of electoral laws, mismanagement, and corruption, which all contributed to collapse of the economy. Many countries imposed sanctions on his regime. Since being held in the US, where he will now face charges for drug trafficking and other crimes, world leaders have been careful how they comment on the situation; most have been diplomatic but quietly rejoicing with the Venezuelan people.

In international relations we aim for peaceful dialogue to resolve problems; however, this doesn’t always work. Most countries did not support President Maduro’s regime, Canada, for instance, withdrew its diplomats years ago. Thousands of Venezuelans have been killed in anti-government protests, and others have gone missing and silenced over the years. Most Venezuelans have reportedly lost weight due to food shortages — the situation is that bad. The few countries which support Maduro are China, Cuba, Iran, and Nicaragua, all led by leaders who gravitate to similar extreme ideology.

Cuba may well be the next target for the US. The crisis in Cuba will worsen without access to oil, supplies, and other support from Venezuela. Cubans struggle daily, and due to scarcity power outages have become the norm, every day. Tourism in Cuba has not returned to pre-pandemic level mainly due to isolation and US sanctions imposed under President Trump.

Cubans lack the freedom most of us take for granted. They are controlled by the political elite and strict laws which monitor movement and activities, including how they buy food and necessities, which are also very scarce.

I’ve been to Cuba three times as a tourist. It is a beautiful country which could give most islands in the region a run for their money in terms of tourism potential. Their beaches are stunning and Cuban culture is captivating, they have an abundance of delicious fruits such as guava, papaya, and mangoes. While the resorts have stable power supply, the reality for most Cubans is very different.

It is not difficult to imagine the possibilities, including tourism, if Cuba were liberated and Cubans had the right to elect a democratic Government like the rest of the free world. I believe, like Venezuelans, most Cubans would rejoice if given liberation. So while some might be quick to judge from the sidelines with harsh words, we must remember that freedom is a fundamental and universal human right and often it involves consequences, vigilance, and sacrifice, and sometimes this means intervention when all else fails.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com

Nicholas Maduro