By Fr Curtis Poyer with the kind assistance of Frs Stephan Alexander and Jorge Rodriguez, for the CCSJ and AMMR

The Archdiocese of Port-of-Spain expresses its prayerful solidarity with the Venezuelan bishops in their most recent call for complete electoral transparency. Independent reports by eyewitnesses continue to grow, especially regarding election-ballot and material tampering. The bishops have also called for the creation of an authentic democracy and lasting economic solutions for all in Venezuela.  From our point of view, such change can only come by the grace of God and the unfailing will of the people.

Historically, nearly eight million Venezuelans have fled their country in the last 20 years due to ever-increasing inflation, never-ending devaluation of currency, widespread life-threatening shortages of basic goods and services—including electricity, water and medicines—rising crime and gang-related violence, seizing of property, and persecution and kidnapping of those who openly oppose government policies and inaction.

How do we know this? Over the last 20 years, while in the Diocese of Tampico, Mexico, and while networking with other dioceses, our social justice ministry team has interviewed hundreds of Venezuelan migrants passing through Mexico on their way to the US-Mexico border.  The experiences we’ve described reflect the migrants’ stories as they sought and continue to seek refugee status in other Latin-American countries and the United States.  Interestingly, many Venezuelan migrants and refugees have shared that while the official Venezuelan regime constantly blames “Yankee-imperialism” and the manipulation of American oil and gas companies and sanctions for their plight, the real causes are poor economic decisions and policies, non-development of other economic sectors, widespread corruption in  public services, unchecked increases in domestic and organised crime, militarisation of the entire country, ever-increasing wealth of  military and government officials, and the systematic persecution of those who voice opinions distinct from the “official ideology”. If the present situation continues, without a satisfactory and just solution for all, we can expect new waves of migration as Venezuelans pack their mochilas [backpacks] and flee. We need to prepare ourselves for a growing context of pastoral ministry to migrants and refugees. In Trinidad, there have been protests by Venezuelans against the official claims of the results of the last elections.

The Venezuelan people, both within Venezuela and the millions in other countries, have demanded not only free and fair elections, but also transparent operation and reporting of election processes and results at every stage and in every location.  In dioceses and parishes across Venezuela and in many countries with Venezuelan communities, we have prayed, and continue to pray, with Our Lady of Coromoto, for the Holy Spirit to guide the actions of Venezuelans and international organisations towards an authentic and lasting liberation of Venezuela, and for the peace and good collaboration with its neighbours.  To paraphrase the Gospel of John, there are many other things that we can say on this topic and hundreds of news sources to which we can refer, but what is written here is based on the experience of pastoral ministries working closely with many migrants and refugees in different contexts over many years. We leave you with this official prayer for Venezuela from Catholic Relief Services:

Loving and Gracious God,

Be with our sisters and brothers in Venezuela,

Who are experiencing violence and instability, Inflation and hunger.

Help all neighbors reach out to those in need. If it be your will, help us be your vessels:

Vessels of your hope, Vessels of your mercy, Vessels of your love and all your blessings,

That all Venezuela may flourish anew.

Holy Mary, Our Lady of Coromoto, pray for us. Amen

(Additional sources. Vatican News; Reporte sobre la situación migratoria, reunión de pastoral social de la provincia de Monterrey, México, 2022)

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