SVG and Venezuela hold talks

Prime Minister Dr. Goodwin Friday, has informed that officials from St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) recently held discussions with Venezuela’s Vice Foreign Minister for the Caribbean, Raúl Licausi on a range of matters of mutual concern.

Prime Minister Friday noted that the current political situation in Venezuela was discussed, along with the ongoing economic relations that SVG has with Venezuela. These include existing debts and the prospects of continued cooperation within the fisheries sector.

“It was a very, very good meeting, I must say, very fruitful, very open and honest discussions. We agreed to continue in good faith to seek ways of strengthening relationships and working together going forward,” Dr. Friday said.

SVG and Venezuela have had diplomatic relations for some 46 years and have collaborated on several projects including the Argyle International Airport (AIA), the Miracle Mission (Vision Now) Eye Programme, the SVG Fuel Storage and Distribution Plant, and agriculture.

Venezuela also gave SVG the first set of close to seven thousand laptops that were distributed free of cost to students.

SVG has also benefitted from the PetroCaribe Agreement, an energy alliance between Venezuela and SVG and other countries that once provided fuel on preferential, low-interest payment terms.

The functioning of the PetroCaribe Agreement, which was beneficial to SVG, began facing disruptions in 2019 due to sanctions imposed on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The fuel was mainly used by the St Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC) in the generation of electricity.