Describing him as “a wonderful friend of the Caribbean,” on Wednesday, Caribbean Community leaders paid tribute to Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez who lost his battle to cancer yesterday.
St. Lucia’s Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny Anthony said that the passing of Chavez “looms very large” for several Caribbean states and more so for those who shared a close working relationship with his administration, caribbean360.com reports.
“He will be remembered for a long time, he accomplished so much in the short fourteen years he was in office and all of us have reason to celebrate the friendship and memory of his accomplishments,” Anthony said.
Anthony added that he shares the pain and anguish of the Venezuela people at this time of grief and expressed regret that St. Lucia was not able to take full advantage of the relationship with Venezuela during Chavez’ term.
Like Anthony, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer expressed his sorrow over Chavez’ death, describing it as a “huge blow.”
“He was a true champion of not only the working class people of Venezuela but of the entire Caribbean,” Spencer said. “His contributions to the development of Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean in general will always be remembered.”
CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque said President Chavez demonstrated solidarity with the Caribbean throughout his tenure and always looked for ways to cooperate and strengthen relations with the governments in the region, with the view to improving the lives of its people, caribbean360.com, also reported.
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