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Jamaican Government, Opposition saddened by death of Chavez
6:02 pm, Tue March 5, 2013
The Jamaican government has expressed great sorrow at the passing of Hugo Chavez, the controversial president of Venezuela.
Chavez died in Venezuela on Tuesday afternoon, after battling cancer for a year and a half.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller informed the Jamaican Parliament of the passing of President Chavez during the regular Tuesday sitting of the legislature and recalled his many kindnesses to Jamaica. Opposition Leader Andrew Holness also spoke highly of Mr. Chavez, describing him as a good man who meant well.
Jamaican House later sent out a more extensive reaction from Prime Minister Simpson Miller, expressing "deep and profound sadness" at the passing of Chavez,describing him as “a faithful and avowed friend of Jamaica”.
“Although it was well known that President Chavez was battling very serious health issues, I was always of the view that the brave and courageous fighter that he was, would have led him to overcome the challenge with which he was afflicted. This was not to be and we will have to live with the reality of him not being with us anymore”.
The Prime Minister said that in the last few years, she had come to know President Chavez personally and found him to be “a sincere, jovial, and a very vociferous and committed leader in the defence of the rights and welfare of the most marginalized and vulnerable in the society and a fighter to correct inequalities in his country, the Americas, and the Caribbean region”.
“I will miss him dearly. Long live my friend. Long live Mr. President. Gone but not forgotten" she proclaimed.
In a press release, Mr. Holness in remembering the Venezuelan Leader said, “Mr. Chavez... was a friend and champion of the developing nations of Latin America and the Caribbean. He was passionate in his beliefs and conviction and his death will certainly leave a void not easily filled”.
He added, “Today we salute Mr. Chavez for the passion with which he advanced the agenda of Less Developed Countries, encouraging us to deepen ties amongst ourselves and cooperate for our development.”
Senator A.J Nicholson, the Jamaican Foreign Affairs Minister, speaking on RJR's "Beyond the Headlines", described Hugo Chavez as "a real champion of challenged people everywhere. His like will not be seen easily."
Reflecting on the Jamaica-Venezuela relationship during the presidency of Chavez, Mr. Nicholson said he hoped the Petro Caribe Agreement will remain in place. There was even a proposal on the table to extend the agreement, he said.
The main opposition group in Venezuela had expressed strong reservations about the Petro Caribe deal during the recent presidential election, citing a need to use more of the country's oil revenues to help Venezuela's poor.
6:02 pm, Tue March 5, 2013
The Jamaican government has expressed great sorrow at the passing of Hugo Chavez, the controversial president of Venezuela.
Chavez died in Venezuela on Tuesday afternoon, after battling cancer for a year and a half.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller informed the Jamaican Parliament of the passing of President Chavez during the regular Tuesday sitting of the legislature and recalled his many kindnesses to Jamaica. Opposition Leader Andrew Holness also spoke highly of Mr. Chavez, describing him as a good man who meant well.
Jamaican House later sent out a more extensive reaction from Prime Minister Simpson Miller, expressing "deep and profound sadness" at the passing of Chavez,describing him as “a faithful and avowed friend of Jamaica”.
“Although it was well known that President Chavez was battling very serious health issues, I was always of the view that the brave and courageous fighter that he was, would have led him to overcome the challenge with which he was afflicted. This was not to be and we will have to live with the reality of him not being with us anymore”.
The Prime Minister said that in the last few years, she had come to know President Chavez personally and found him to be “a sincere, jovial, and a very vociferous and committed leader in the defence of the rights and welfare of the most marginalized and vulnerable in the society and a fighter to correct inequalities in his country, the Americas, and the Caribbean region”.
“I will miss him dearly. Long live my friend. Long live Mr. President. Gone but not forgotten" she proclaimed.
In a press release, Mr. Holness in remembering the Venezuelan Leader said, “Mr. Chavez... was a friend and champion of the developing nations of Latin America and the Caribbean. He was passionate in his beliefs and conviction and his death will certainly leave a void not easily filled”.
He added, “Today we salute Mr. Chavez for the passion with which he advanced the agenda of Less Developed Countries, encouraging us to deepen ties amongst ourselves and cooperate for our development.”
Senator A.J Nicholson, the Jamaican Foreign Affairs Minister, speaking on RJR's "Beyond the Headlines", described Hugo Chavez as "a real champion of challenged people everywhere. His like will not be seen easily."
Reflecting on the Jamaica-Venezuela relationship during the presidency of Chavez, Mr. Nicholson said he hoped the Petro Caribe Agreement will remain in place. There was even a proposal on the table to extend the agreement, he said.
The main opposition group in Venezuela had expressed strong reservations about the Petro Caribe deal during the recent presidential election, citing a need to use more of the country's oil revenues to help Venezuela's poor.
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