Download PDFFor weeks now, the world stands still, trying to control a pandemic that, without any doubt, is the greatest challenge we have faced together as a society and as international community. Our priority is confronting it, as is the priority of the people of the United States.
Fortunately, in Venezuela, we have been able to count on some advantages. We took very early measures of social distancing and amplified testing, relying on our free and public healthcare system throughout the country. We also rely on the invaluable community-based organisations to help raise social awareness and support the most vulnerable sectors. The solidarity of Cuba, China, and Russia, and the support of the World Health Organisation has likewise allowed us to obtain necessary medical supplies despite Donald Trump’s illegal sanctions.
In expressing my solidarity to you in this important historic challenge, as well as our consternation and grief for the consequences of the pandemic in the U.S., I also have the obligation to make you aware that as the world focuses on dealing with the COVID-19 emergency, the Trump Administration, once again using institutions in order to fulfill electoral objectives, and based on lies under the pretext of the War on Drugs, has ordered the largest U.S. military deployment in our region in the last 30 years, with the purpose of threatening Venezuela and bringing to our region a costly, bloody, military conflict of indefinite duration.
In the run-up to this fallacious maneuvre, last March 26, an Attorney General of questionable independence filed, without showing any evidence whatsoever, accusations of drug trafficking towards the United Stated against myself and against senior Venezuelan State officials, even though data from the Department of Defence itself show that Venezuela is not a primary transit country towards the United States.
It is clear that the Trump Administration is creating a smokescreen to cloud the improvised and erratic handling of the pandemic in the United States. The most optimistic forecast show that close to 240 000 souls will be lost in the United States. From the beginning, Donald Trump downplayed and even denied it, the same way he has done with climate change. Today, the crisis in the United States aggravates simply because, despite having the resources, he is not willing to transport the healthcare system to prioritise full care for the population instead of profit-based private medicine, insurance companies and pharmaceutical industry.
This statement was released by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Moros on 3 April 2020, in Caracas, Venezuela.
Please read the full statement at www.Karibu.org.za.
