Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Extends Condolences on the Passing of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar
signs the Condolence book at the Venezuelan Embassy

From the Office of the Prime Minister
March 06, 2013

On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, it is with great sadness that I extend deepest condolences to the Government and people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and to his family on the passing of Comandante Hugo Chávez Frías, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Our prayers accompany them in their time of grief.

President Chávez will always be remembered for his vision for the future of his beloved country, for his unwavering commitment to reducing poverty among the dispossessed and for his determination to provide a dignified life to the beneficiaries of his populist programmes.

May his soul rest in peace.

I was honoured to attend the historic inaugural summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which President Chávez hosted in Caracas in December, 2011. I well recall his receptivity to Trinidad and Tobago's proposal that the CELAC troika be expanded to a quartet to include a Caribbean voice.

This year, 2013, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. Venezuela is one of our strongest allies and our relationship remains solid.

Again, on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, I extend our deepest sympathy to the Government and people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the death of President Hugo Chávez Frías.

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar offers
Condolences to the Venezuelan Ambassador Coromoto Godoy Calderon

Honourable Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s letter of condolence to His Excellency Nicholas Manduro

Executive Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Palacio de Miraflores,
Caracas

Your Excellency,

I write to express the profound sympathy of the Government and People of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the Government and People of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and to the family of Comandante Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Death has cut short the life of this committed integrationist who was completely dedicated to the equitable development of his own people and of the people of Latin American and the Caribbean.

President Chavez leaves a legacy of strong leadership and unshakable commitment to his principles. Like the Liberator Simon Bolivar, from whom he drew inspiration, President Chavez lived by the maxim that "when the state is weak, and when results are distantly seen, all men hesitate; opinion is divided, passions rage, and the enemy fans these passions in order to win an easy victory because of them". The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) can be proud of a leader who exemplified so much for so many.

I was honored to have collaborated with President Chavez not only to consolidate the solid bonds of kinship and shared interests which unite Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, but also in furtherance of the goals of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). In this year of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between both our countries, I wish to assure you of my continued disposition and that of my Government to strengthen even more the ties which bind Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and esteem.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Prime Minister

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