NATIONAL Security Minister, Hermangild Francis has expressed the Saint Lucia government’s ‘abhorrence’ about the recent attempt to kill Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro survived the assault, during which drones armed with explosives flew toward him as he spoke at a military parade.
“We believe in the rule of democracy,” Francis said at a news conference Thursday.
“We believe in the rule of democracy and to overthrow any democratically elected official is not something that we accept,” the former Deputy Police Commissioner said.
He asked a visiting Venezuelan delegation to convey to President Maduro the Saint Lucia government’s concern about what transpired.
The visit by the three-member Venezuelan delegation, led by the Vice Minister for Security, followed a decision by the Saint Lucia government to impose visa restrictions on Venezuelan visitors.
The Allen Chastanet administration has said that the decision was linked to security concerns.
Francis disclosed that the discussions with the Venezuelan visitors also included the visa issue, drugs and firearms.
“Hopefully, at the end of the day, we will be able to put a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between our two countries to fight the drug menace and the proliferation of firearms coming into Saint Lucia,” the National Security Minister stated.
“Venezuela has been a good friend to Saint Lucia over the past years, but the government has to take the necessary steps to make sure that the security of Saint Lucia is maintained,” Francis said.