SVG congratulates His Excellency Hugo Chavez on his re-election

The Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) yesterday expressed “immense joy” at the reelection of Hugo Chavez to a fourth consecutive term as president of Venezuela.{{more}}

“The Government and People of St Vincent and the Grenadines share the immense joy of the Government and People of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the conduct and outcome of the keenly-contested Presidential Election,” Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said in a statement, one day after the election.

“We congratulate His Excellency Hugo Chavez Frias on his re-election, for his fourth consecutive term, as President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.”

Gonsalves said it was noteworthy that an array of independent election observers, internationally, had commended the government of Venezuela, under the leadership of Chavez, for holding a free and fair election.

“Indeed, the conduct of the election has been hailed as one of the most transparent, free and fair, not only in the Western Hemisphere but globally,” the statement added.

“This is ample supportive testimony of the democratic credentials of President Chavez, despite the hostile propaganda to the contrary against him, inside and outside of Venezuela.”

Chavez’s re-election provides additional opportunities for the strengthening of the already strong bonds of solidarity which exist between the governments and peoples of SVG and Venezuela, Gonsalves said.

Both countries are partners in the Petro-Caribe Agreement and are members of the ALBA — the Bolivarian Alternative for Our America.

Venezuela and this country are also members of the Community of States of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Organisation of America States, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations.

Gonsalves said he would be writing Chavez personally about his victory.