Skerrit declares Obama’s action against Venezuela “unfair"

Speaking at a specially convened Caracas meeting of the countries forming the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), which was called to show solidarity for Venezuela, Skerrit told the meeting that the imposition of these measures laid out by the US president was “unfair and inexplicable.”

Skerrit further expressed his solidarity and that of the Dominican people with Venezuela arguing that he was not displaying an anti-American sentiment, but wished to defend principles which he considered to be not negotiable.

He urged the resolution of disputes between the countries be settled through dialogue and diplomacy, stressing that Obama was unilateral in his decision to sign the executive order accusing Venezuela of being a threat to the US national security. “We are here to tell Venezuela it is not alone in seeking justice,” he added.

Skerrit also used the occasion of the meeting to call for the lifting of the 50 year old US financial and commercial blockade against Cuba.

Other Caribbean leaders at the summit also weighed in calling for more dialogue and understanding between the two countries. Saint Vincent and Grenadines prime minister Ralph Gonsalves noted that: "The U.S. executive order is a threat to all of us."