Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Antillean PM concerned about threat from Chavez

Monday, April 10, 2006

by: Nikola Lashley
Caribbean Net News Curacao Correspondent
Email: nikola@caribbeannetnews.com

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao: The Antillean prime minister, Emily de Jongh Elagh, has admitted she is concerned about an attack from Venezuela on the Antilles.

She confirmed in an interview that the possible and impending threat is now closely monitored by the Dutch defence ministry as part of the islands’ upgraded security plan, given growing evidence that peace between the Antilles and Venezuela could collapse at anytime.

Careless and potentially explosive comments made by the Dutch defence minister Henk Kamp , were described by her government ministers, as nothing short of a ‘declaration of war’

The normally composed De Jongh, became somewhat uncomfortable when pushed on the question about her thoughts on what the defence minister had said, she attempted to quickly distance herself from Kamp’s view that Venezuela was no match for Dutch defence, weakly suggesting that the sentiment of Kamp’s comments had been misquoted in the media.

Despite attempts at damage control by the Antillean and Dutch governments, who are eager to create a sense of security, however uncertain, De Jongh is not taking the situation lightly; she has asked Holland for a weekly in-depth briefing about how the situation with Venezuela is developing.

De Jongh also expressed a wish to maintain strong links with the US, but does not hold the same views on Chavez as Washington, who recently described him as a ‘dictator who continues to oppress its population and is looking to undermine the democracy in the region.” She went on to say she respected Chavez as a politician and how he handles the political situation in his country.

Following the growing and uneasy attention about Chavez’s desire to rid the Caribbean of its ‘imperialistic powers’ and his well documented and historic interest in the Antilles, the prime minister say’s she is now waiting patiently for the results of a meeting between the Dutch foreign affairs minister, Mr Bot and Hugo Chavez, due in a few weeks time, designed to re-establish the ties between the two countries.

De Jongh says the people of the Antilles voted to maintain links with Holland and that this is the main focus of her new government.

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