(By Ernesto Cooke) – “I have always been on the side of the oppressed”, so says former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell.
Mitchell was speaking on Boom FM Wednesday 10th October about his recent trip to China, where he attended the InterAction Council meeting.
At the session, Sir James said he told the gathering of former world leaders that SVG is not united on the issue of Venezuela.
“I drafted a statement which I presented at that meeting, it called for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela, former heads agreed that something must be done”.
Sir James said SVG sided with Venezuela at the last OAS meeting, he said such sentiments were also expressed by former Bolivian leader Eduardo Rodríguez.
“He turned to me and said, a government not signing the petition does not mean total representation in a country”.
In May of 2018 the OAS Secretary General urged members to sign a petition to act, so that the rule of law and democracy be returned to Venezuela.
Sir James said sooner or later the regime in Venezuela will collapse and those who would like to see change will be on the right side of history.
“I would not like to live the last days of my life in silence when I see something that is going wrong, should i be silent, or should I speak out where I see something going wrong”.
Sir James said Venezuela’s help to SVG goes a long way back to the days when Colin Tennant had financial problems in Mustique, it was rich Venezuelans that help him, said Sir James
“What I am saying, is that I appreciate the help, we all do, but cannot ignore someone who is torturing their own brothers and sisters because they had help you in the past”.
Sir James says he will remain passionate about helping the oppressed, and SVG will benefit in the long run, more than the short term gains we are having as a nation now.
Sir James said the Gonsalves regime has no moral authority in their position on Venezuela, what they do have he says is a financial consideration.
“Are we so greedy to watch a government make at least 2 Million of its people run because of no economic means to survive, because we get a few dollars, what is it? we have no conscience”.
The Former Prime Minister said we need to have a broader perspective, and our position must show that we are acting in the Venezuelans best interest.
