Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 25 september 2019
Trump administration to triple democracy aid to Venezuela

By JOSHUA GOODMAN council and other reforms
Associated Press after talks with Guaidó
NEW YORK (AP) — The sponsored by Norway
Trump administration is broke down.
more than tripling U.S. sup- Trump, speaking at the Unit-
port for pro-democracy ed Nations on Tuesday, de-
work in Venezuela and for livered a sharp warning to
the first time directly fund- Venezuela, declaring that
ing opposition leader Juan he awaited the day “when
Guaidó as he attempts to Venezuela will be free
set up a government to ri- and when liberty will pre-
val the socialist administra- vail throughout this hemi-
tion of Nicolás Maduro. sphere.” He also called
The $52 million in new aid socialism “the wrecker of
was announced Tuesday nations” and “destroyer of
by Mark Green, the admin- societies.” It came just a
istrator of the U.S. Agency day after the United States
for International Develop- and more than a dozen
ment, following a meeting Latin American countries
in New York with Guaidó’s agreed to investigate and
envoy Carlos Vecchio, arrest associates and senior
whom the Trump adminis- officials of Maduro’s gov-
tration recognizes as Ven- In this Sept. 3, 2019, file photo, Venezuela’s opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim President ernment who are suspect-
ezuela’s ambassador in of Venezuela, Juan Guaido, speaks to the press at the administrative headquarters of the National ed of crimes such as drug
Washington. Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela. trafficking, money launder-
The funding was mostly Associated Press ing and financing terrorism.
repurposed from aid origi- recognition as Venezue- A senior Trump administra- The U.S. official spoke on Venezuela’s opposition is
nally earmarked for Hon- la’s rightful leader by more tion official said the new the condition of anonym- relying heavily on the in-
duras and Guatemala that than 50 nations. But he has U.S. aid package seeks to ity because he is not au- ternational community to
President Donald Trump been unable to translate address that deficit, provid- thorized to publicly discuss force Maduro from power.
cut last year after accus- the international support ing about $19 million to pay details of the aid package. In addition to the Trump
ing the Central American and popularity at home for secure communication Guaidó’s team said in a administration funds for
countries of failing to stem into real power capable devices, travel stipends statement that it would pro-democracy work, the
the flow of migrants to the of helping regular Venezu- and training in budget not administer the money Treasury Department also
U.S. elans suffering from hyper- planning and other tools to directly or give it to any in- moved to block any U.S.
The funding boost shows inflation and an economic effectively govern should stitution or political party. It assets controlled by four
the level of U.S. support for collapse akin to the de- they manage to force said it hoped to work with transport companies that
Guaidó, who has drawn struction wrought by war. Maduro from power. the U.S. in the coming days it says keep delivering Ven-
to decide how the funds ezuela oil to Cuba, another
would be spent and leave act aimed at punishing
it to the American authori- those who support Madu-
ties to distribute the funds ro’s government.
and audit their use. The funding announced
The decision aimed at Tuesday is in addition to
boosting transparency hundreds of millions of dol-
comes after a string of ac- lars already committed
cusations earlier this year by the U.S. to support the
that Venezuelan opposi- more than 4 million vulner-
tion groups mismanaged able Venezuelans who
humanitarian aid for mi- have fled the country’s
grants in Colombia. crisis and migrated to Co-
The Trump administration lombia, Peru, Ecuador and
had budgeted $9 million other nations throughout
during the 2017 fiscal year Latin America.
and $15 million in 2018 to The United Kingdom,
promote free press, the meanwhile, announced a
monitoring of human rights major boost in aid for Vene-
abuses and anti-corruption zuela, responding to a U.N.
initiatives — work by civil call for donors to give $223
society groups that will be million to support a human-
greatly expanded by the itarian response this year.
additional funding. The U.K. pledged 30 million
A U.S.-backed uprising in euros ($33 million) on top of
April by a cadre of secu- the 14.5 million euros ($15.9
rity forces failed to break million) it announced ear-
the armed forces’ loyalty lier this year. The funds will
to Maduro. The embattled go to organizations deliver-
socialist in recent days has ing medicine, vaccinations
gone on the offensive, an- and clean water inside
nouncing a deal with a Venezuela and neighbor-
small group of minority op- ing countries hosting mil-
position parties to reshape lions of Venezuelans who
the nation’s electoral have fled the crisis.q