Two regional ambassadors based in Port-of-Spain along with the leader of a local political party signed a declaration in solidarity with the government of people of Venezuela in Lopinot on Saturday.
Signing the Declaration in Solidarity with People and Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela were Ambassador of Cuba Guillermo Vázquez Moreno, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic Dr José Serulle Ramia, as well as political leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) David Abdulah.
This took place as the Lopinot/La Pastora Community Council in collaboration with the Embassy of Venezuela celebrated Cruz de Mayo at the Lopinot Historical Complex in Lopinot.
Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, has seen almost daily demonstrations in recent weeks, some of which have turned violent.
Critics are accusing President Nicolas Maduro of moving the South American towards a dictatorship, and want him to resign. But Maduro says the opposition is conspiring with foreign entities, specifically the US, to destabilise the country.
On Saturday, however, the atmosphere was a festive one for Venezuelan Ambassador Coromoro Godoy Calderon and Venezuelans living in Trinidad, as people from all across the T&T and other Spanish-speaking countries as well as visiting Venezuelans journeyed to Lopinot to celebrate the Feast of the May Cross (Cruz de Mayo) with residents of that community.
Cruz de Mayo is an expression of the people and their creative power. People sing to the “Holy Tree,” and pay tribute to nature at the beginning of the rainy season to bring good harvests.
The May Cross tradition began in old Europe when a young girl would be adorned with flowers in commemoration of the goddess Maya the “splendour of nature” representing eternity as spring is the time of renewal. There was celebration of dancing.
Among participants were Grupo Madera from San Agustin, Caracas, Venezuela, as well as students from the Venezuelan Institute for Cultural Cooperation and Jugadores de Unidos Parang Group. Chief of the Santa Rosa Carib Community Ricardo Bharath Hernandez, and Carib Queen Jennifer Cassar also attended.
