by Curlan Campbell
- Maduro declared victorious over opposition candidate after presidential election
- Embassy of Venezuela hosted International Day of Solidarity for Peace and against Fascism
- Embassy condemned allegations of “election fraud”
Over the weekend, Venezuelans resident in Grenada and Grenadians demonstrated their support for the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela following the controversy over last month’s presidential election, in which Nicolás Maduro was declared victorious over opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia.
The controversy prompted the Venezuelan Embassy in Grenada to condemn allegations of “election fraud” brought against Maduro and his party.
Attendees, some with flags and other patriotic paraphernalia, gathered to show solidarity as Jorge Alfonso Guerrero Veloz, the Venezuelan Ambassador to Grenada, held the International Day of Solidarity for Peace and against Fascism at the Embassy of Venezuela in Grand Anse on Saturday, 17 August 2024.
In a statement on Saturday, translator Eglee Wharwhood denounced what was described as “multifaceted media attacks” by international propaganda machines, such as news agencies, especially from the United States. They are accused of attempting to interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign country aimed at “forcing a government change in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to one subservient to US imperialism.”
Maduro recently issued a decree restricting access to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) for 10 days. This decision came after a public disagreement via social media with Elon Musk, the platform’s owner. According to reports, Musk allegedly referred to the Venezuelan leader as a “dictator” and a “clown.” In retaliation, Maduro has accused Musk of provoking “hatred, fascism, [and] civil war.”
“The only body authorised to announce the results is the National Electoral Council (CNE). They do not recognise the chambers of elections, so this means that the presidency of Venezuela has been decided by the United States. They are deciding who is the winner without proof, without a document,” stated Ambassador Veloz. He criticised the opposition for refusing to acknowledge the results declared by the CNE.
Peter David, MP for the Town of St George, congratulated the people of Venezuela for the victory and thanked the Venezuelan government for their support. He stated that the Venezuelan Revolution, led by Hugo Chávez, not only used oil to develop Venezuela but also benefitted the region’s people. “We are deeply grateful to the government and people of Venezuela for the support they provided during our country’s energy crisis,” David said. “Those of us who are witnessing what is taking place should not be surprised; it is a repeat of the old playbook over and over again. They refuse to allow Venezuela to develop peacefully because the development of Venezuela is the development of progressive forces throughout the region.”
Chester Humphrey, immediate past President of the Senate of Grenada, added his voice in solidarity. “Every day, they bombard the minds of the people to keep them in line. So we face a mighty formidable enemy, but we are confident that one day we will be liberated.”
André Lewis, President General of the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers Union (GTAWU), also expressed his support for Venezuela’s vision to enhance the quality of life for the working-class population in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Siddiqui Sylvester, a member of the ad hoc group “Grenadians for Justice,” also expressed solidarity, emphasising the necessity of informing Grenadian youth about the region’s history. “Today, in the age of the internet, we must find ways to convey this message to the younger population of Grenada. This is the challenge I propose to all of us here,” he said.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that González Urrutia stated that he was prepared to engage in discussions for a smooth transition and urged Maduro to relinquish power, saying that its tally of polling-station-level results showed González Urrutia, 74, had won more than two-thirds of votes.
Since these developments, anti-government protests flared up over the election results. The Electoral Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) is examining the electoral materials.
I pray for the people suffering under the hands of Maduro. It would be crazy for people to keep re-electing someone who has them enduring such suffering. We cannot in good conscience support such; Regardless of how it benefits us.
I am quite confused. According to the CNE (The only body authorized to announce the results is the National Electoral Council), the president of this institution (Mr. Amoroso) declared that they had been hacked from Macedonia (Macedonia sent a note of protest and demanded proof of this accusation, which I believe was never provided). If they were indeed hacked, how were they able to announce the results on the night between July 28 and 29?
Let me explain the voting system in Venezuela for those who are unfamiliar with it. Voters cast their ballots using a machine very similar to a computer (which operates offline, disconnected from the Internet). At the end of the day, when the polling stations close, the machine generates printed reports on paper that indicate the voting results. Copies of these reports are given to the witnesses of each participating candidate and to the CNE representative. All these records must be signed, and the fingerprints of the polling station members are added.
In some cases, the printed reports from the voting machines are compared with the contents of the ballot box (when the voter selects their candidate, the machine prints their vote, which the voter deposits into a box as a verification method). After the reports are printed, the machine connects with the central tallying center (not via the Internet). This is done through a telephone or cellular line where the data travels encrypted. The central tallying center is also not connected to the Internet.
So my question is, how could they have been hacked?
If CNE were indeed hacked (which, as you can see from the explanation, is highly unlikely), how can they be certain that one candidate or the other was the winner?
The opposition holds more than 80% of the voting machine reports, signed and with the fingerprints of the polling station members, clearly showing that Mr. Edmundo Rodriguez has a significant lead—approximately double—over Mr. Nicolas Maduro. They have published these reports, and they are available for viewing at the following link. (By the way, Mr. Jorge Rodriguez, the current president of the National Assembly for the ruling party, also published their reports on the PSUV website in past elections as proof that their party was the winner.)
https://resultadosconvzla.com/
Another point to consider is the nearly 7,500,000 Venezuelan citizens who, for one reason or another, have been forced to leave the country, many of them walking long distances to Argentina or the United States. They were not allowed to change their voting centers to their new countries of residence. To register in the electoral roll, only a laminated ID card (valid or expired) is required, but this time, they were asking for additional documentation or imposing cumbersome processes to prevent them from registering and participating in the presidential elections, which are the only ones where citizens can vote from outside Venezuela.
Could it be that they know these 7,500,000 citizens are not just traveling the world for leisure, but have actually been forced to leave the country due to economic or political reasons
Why is it that only countries like Nicaragua, Iran, Russia, Cuba, and others in Africa with questionable democracies are the ones that recognize Mr. Nicolas Maduro as the elected president?
Do you understand the reason for my doubts? I hope someone can clarify them for me, and I’ll let you know if the Venezuelan government takes any action against my statements. In Venezuela, you can be imprisoned for expressing your opinion, accused of terrorism, treason, and even tortured. We should be grateful that in Grenada, we enjoy an atmosphere of freedom, and it’s essential to protect our democracy here because once it’s lost, it’s very difficult to regain it. Just look at what’s happening in Venezuela.
Peter David and Chester Humphrey coming out of the woodwork to defend a blatantly rigged election held by an autocratic, corrupt to the core regime which oppresses its people. Embarrassing. The former President of the Senate and the parliamentary representative for our capital city prostrating themselves before an authoritarian regime which turned one of Latin America’s most successful countries into a bankrupt basket case from which millions have fled. What an embarrassment to our country, especially is David goes on to become Leader of the Opposition, as he wants.
Maduro is not a good man, he must go away.