Guyana votes to reject “fraudulent” elections result in Venezuela

The Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) held a vote to reject the results of the December 6 parliamentary elections in Venezuela which was passed with 21 votes.
Guyana was one of the 21 nations that voted for the resolution while two voted against, five abstained, and six were absent.
The resolution was approved with 21 votes in favour – The Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St Lucia, Uruguay, The United States, and Venezuela; two against – Bolivia and Mexico; five abstentions – Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Suriname; and six absent – Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The motion called on OAS Member States to “reject the fraudulent elections held in Venezuela on December 6, 2020, and to not recognise its results, for being neither free nor fair in accordance with the conditions established in international law; for lacking impartiality and transparency; for not having had the participation of all political actors and citizens; for not having released political prisoners; for the lack of independence of the electoral authority; and for not having an independent and credible international electoral observation”.

It further condemned the consistent and deliberate strategy by the Maduro Administration to undermine the democratic system and the separation of powers. It called for the urgent protection of democratically elected members of the Venezuelan National Assembly and Opposition members who are in political exile.
“To reiterate the call to hold, as soon as possible, free, fair, transparent and legitimate presidential and parliamentary elections, with independent and credible international electoral observation, as part of a transition process that leads to the appointment of a democratically elected government in accordance with the will of the Venezuelan people and the Venezuelan Constitution… To demand full access to the international community to allow the provision of assistance to the most vulnerable populations affected by the crisis in Venezuela, in accordance with generally-recognised humanitarian principles and international law,” the OAS’s resolution stated.

The US Embassy in Georgetown, in a tweet, said that it was time for a peaceful, democratic transition in Venezuela and added that the United States and the international community shared the obligation to demonstrate and provide support for the Venezuelan people.
Guyana was recently one of nine countries which abstained when the OAS passed a resolution to condemn the elections back in late October. The OAS at the time had noted that the elections would have failed to meet the minimum conditions for the hosting of democratic elections according to international standards.

Back in October, that resolution said the OAS’s recognition of the elections for the National Assembly of Venezuela will depend on the existence of the necessary conditions of freedom, justice, impartiality, and transparency. It added that the participation of all political actors and citizens and the release of political prisoners, under reasonable deadlines for their organisation, and with independent and credible international electoral observation should be guaranteed.
It had also called for the rejection of interference in the functioning of political parties by the Maduro regime.

That resolution was approved with 21 votes in favour – the Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, Uruguay, Venezuela; four against – Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Nicaragua, St Vincent and the Grenadines and nine abstentions – Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Mexico, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
Venezuela is currently going through one of the most gruelling periods in its history. US imposed sanctions against the country and its Nicolás Maduro leadership have resulted in a massive economic and humanitarian crisis.

Scores of Venezuelans have fled their homes into neighbouring countries such as Guyana, Trinidad, and Colombia. The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, during a visit to Guyana in August pledged US$5 million to the Guyanese Government to provide aid for the Venezuelan refugees.