PM Holness admits to steering Jamaica clear of US-Venezuela tensions

 

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness on Wednesday rejected claims that the Jamaican government has taken a timid position on the Trump administration's invasion of Venezuela, which led to the capture of its leader, Nicolás Maduro. 

 

CARICOM leaders have been coming under heavy criticism from foreign affairs experts and other pundits for taking what has been described as a weak response to the impasse. 

 

But speaking Wednesday at the Heal the Nation: National Day of Prayer Service at the Power of Faith Ministries in Portmore, St. Catherine, Prime Minister Holness indicated that his administration is not prepared to get into a dispute with the Trump administration over the matter. 

 

"We are living in changing times, uncertain times, unchartered waters in many instances. And my job as the steward of your affairs and the servant of your wishes is to keep Jamaica safe, not to steer into waters for which we don't have to go, not to invite problems on ourselves when we have our own problems to deal with. This is not us recoiling from our principles and duties," he stressed. 

 

"Jamaica has always been consistent, and we have always been the strong voice of reason for small developing countries globally and continue to be. Many of the issues that are presently being discussed, if persons who comment on these issues would only do a very cursory research into the matter, they would see the positions that Jamaica has taken and continue to take. So we give God thanks for keeping Jamaica safe in turbulent geopolitical and geoeconomic times," said the Prime Minister.