(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has extended congratulations to His Excellency Hugo Chavez, President of the Republic of Venezuela, on his re-election to office for an unprecedented fourth term.

The people of Venezuela had spoken decisively, affirming their confidence in President Chavez’s leadership, the Secretary-General noted in a congratulatory message. “In so doing, they have entrusted you and your government with the critical task of leading the country on its continued path to sustained socio-economic development,” the Secretary-General said.

In his message, Amb. LaRocque referred to the fruitful relations between CARICOM and Venezuela, and said he looked forward to continued collaboration and cooperation in international and hemispheric fora, as well as through initiatives such as PetroCaribe.

The full text of the message reads:

Excellency:

I wish to extend heartfelt congratulations to you and to the United Socialist Party of Venezuela on your victory following the Presidential Elections on 7 October 2012. The People of the Bolivarian Republic should also be congratulated for their high level of participation and a relatively peaceful election process.

The People of Venezuela have spoken decisively in affirming their confidence in your leadership by re-electing you to the nation’s highest political office for an unprecedented fourth term. In so doing, they have entrusted you and your Government with the critical task of leading the country on its continued path to sustained socio-economic development.

CARICOM and Venezuela have enjoyed fruitful relations over the years, and as our countries strive to maintain and accelerate development gains, the Community looks forward to continued collaboration and cooperation in various international and hemispheric fora such as the Organization of American States and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, as well as through initiatives such as PetroCaribe.

Excellency, I wish to extend my best wishes to you and your Administration as you lead your People to new thresholds of development and prosperity.