Venezuela’s populist leader Hugo Chavez has regained the presidency for a fourth time in a convincing victory, albeit with a reduced majority, but this cannot erase the fact that he remains the choice of the vast majority of Venezuelans, especially those from among the poor and working class.
What is also notable about Chavez’s victory is that it was a resounding one, despite overt and covert moves by the US and its allies to apply economic and diplomatic pressure and to provide financial and other forms of support to his opponents in a bid to defeat the charismatic leader and to bring a halt to his pro-working class policies and programmes.
One of the arguments, that was used, against the Chavez government was that it did not have a correct economic policy. Well the truth is not that his government’s economic policies were incorrect, but on the contrary it was geared to help the poor and not to further enrich the wealthy class. So that is why the government’s economic policy was described as incorrect by the U.S. and its locallackeys.
The reality is that under Chavez’s rule the lives of the vast majority of the poor and under-privileged improved significantly as his government invested massively in the social sector providing better health care, housing, potable water supply and educational opportunities.
In fact, since Chavez took office there has been a strong shift towards left-leaning governments throughout Latin America, much to the chagrin and disgust of the U.S. and its Western allies. And they have never hidden their distaste to this trend as they have been openly hostile to Chavez  and have unsuccessfully tried every trick in the book to get him out of office. The anti-Chavez campaign has been  very similar to the anti-Fidel Castro campaign which also failed because of the simple fact that the overwhelming majority of Cubans love and adore him.
Chavez’s friends such as Cuba, Russia and his leftist South American counterparts further angered the U.S. and as such Washington tried to use at least one of its South American allies to create difficulties. This strategy did not bear much fruit.
The Chavez victory is like a bitter pill for the U.S. and its friends. However, they have no alternative but to accept it because the people have spoken convincingly that they want a return of Mr. Chavez. And as a self-appointed global police for democracy they have to accept the will of the people.
However, this Chavez victory has been notable in at least one way, and that is, the re-elected President has signalled his intention to reach out to the opposition and work in the interest of the country. Shortly after his victory, Chavez said he was “stretching out my hands and heart on our behalf because we are brothers in Bolivar’s homeland.”
He also invited to dialogue all those whom he said were “sowing hatred and social venom.”
He acknowledged too that his government would need “to respond with greater efficacy and efficiency to the needs of our people, adding: “I promise you I’ll be a better president.”
As its eastern neighbour, Guyana would be looking forward to deepening and strengthening the already close cultural and trade relations between the two countries.
President Donald Ramotar in his message of congratulation to Mr. Chavez expressed this sentiment when he declared: “I look forward to working with you towards preserving and strengthening the friendship, cooperation and mutual respect which have characterised the relationship in recent years.”
From our standpoint, perhaps one of the issues we would be happy to see a permanent resolution arrived at, during this term of office for President Chavez is the age-long border controversy. This issue has been extended for too long and in the spirit of friendship should not be allowed to drag on for much longer.