Grupo de Lima will define in Canada a support plan for Guaidó

The meeting was convened by Canada last Monday for the purpose also "to explore ways in which the international community can further support the people of Venezuela".

The institutional, economic and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela "poses a huge security, humanitarian and economic challenge for the continent," said Chancellor Chrystia Freeland, according to the EFE news agency.

The Minister pointed out that "There are already countries like Colombia and Brazil that have hosted a large number of Venezuelan refugees"and "some of the stories of these refugees, including unaccompanied minors in terrible conditions, are shocking".

"We have seen in Syria how a refugee crisis can have broader and destabilizing impacts, it is important that we also focus on that"Freeland added.

The meeting will be the occasion of the presentation of the leader of the anti-war party Primero Justicia (PJ) and the former President of the National Assembly (AN, parliament), Julio Borges, whom the Venezuelan legislature has designated last week as as the diplomatic representative of the Lima group.

Although until this afternoon it has not been officially confirmed, Diplomatic sources said the presence of representatives of the 14 member countries of the Group was expected, as well as the United States, Uruguay, the European Union (EU) and the Organization of American States (OAS), the latter as an observer.

The Lima group was created in mid-2017 to monitor the situation in Venezuela. It is currently composed of the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Santa Claus. Lucia

Of the support by Andrés López Obrador as president, on December 1st, Mexico stands out from its partners and is the only one of the 14 not to sign the statement in which the group he ignores the mandate initiated on January 10 by Nicolás Maduro as president of Venezuela.

A few days ago, Mexico signed a document with Uruguay in which both countries declared themselves neutral in the face of the Venezuelan power conflict and convened a similar country meeting to be held on Thursday in Montevideo. before retiring from this meeting. call.

Caribbean countries surveyed Almagro

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries, which are also members of the Organization of American States (OAS), They criticized Luis Almagro, the secretary general of the organization, for supporting the interim president of Venezuela, appointed by Parliament, Juan Guaidó., without consulting them.

"We are writing to express our disapproval and serious concern about your position as Secretary General in recognizing the acting President of the President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó", says a letter sent by Caricom to Almagro and published today.

"We consider that this action is inappropriate on their part because they do not have the authorization of the OAS member states," the document added, which obliges Almagro to "publicly clarify that it is did not speak on behalf of all Member States "of the Pan American Corps.

The statement is the result of a meeting held last Thursday between heads of government and foreign ministers from 12 of Caricom's 15 member countries, the Europa Press news agency reported.

Caricom's full partners are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Barbados, St. Kitts- and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Montserrat and Trinidad and Tobago.