Chastanet looking to impose visa restrictions on Venezuelans

St Lucian Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has reiterated his country’s security concerns in relation to the situation in Venezuela.

And he has disclosed that his administration is looking to slap visa restrictions on Venezuelans visiting this country.

“I don’t think that we should make it any easier than the logistics already have for Venezuelans to come here,” Chastanet told reporters during a pre-cabinet news conference.

He announced that he has asked the ministry of immigration to prepare a document for cabinet to consider in relation to the visa restrictions.

“Barring any impediment, we will impose it,” the prime minister asserted.

He said he remained “deeply concerned” about the security threat to St Lucia and the region from the Venezuela situation.

“If in fact the government is continuing to struggle to maintain law and order in Venezuela – we have seen an increase in the production of drugs coming out of Colombia – people are short of cash and therefore people are bringing drugs and bringing arms to sell in Saint Lucia and other Caribbean Islands,” he said.

‘No support’ for intervention

Chastanet stressed St Lucia’s position against foreign intervention in Venezuela.

United States President Donald Trump said last week that he would not rule out a “military option” to quell the chaos in the South American country.

“St Lucia has always been in the position that we would not support any foreign intervention in Venezuela whether by the United States or anybody else – inside this hemisphere or outside this hemisphere,” Chastanet told reporters.

“I had a long talk with my ambassador and my minister of foreign affairs. I think that as a hemisphere we have failed.”

He believes that the failure was in respect of not establishing clear parameters on solving problems in the region.

Original source: St Lucia Times