Venezuelanalysis: Venezuelans Vote in Third ‘National Popular Consultation’ to Select State-Funded Projects This is the first of six popular consultations this year and the third since the initiative was launched by the Maduro government in 2024. The grassroots electoral process seeks to tackle the most pressing issues within communities. Residents first meet in popular assemblies to propose up to seven projects and then vote for their preferred initiative. Among proposals, there were 6,481 on water and sewage systems, 5,136 on housing, 4,681on road infrastructure, 4,160 on electricity, 3,945 on the education sector and 3,123 on improving health services. Venezuelans have chosen from more than 36,600 projects proposed during local assemblies. Each winning initiative will be awarded $10,000. President Nicolás Maduro commended Sunday’s successful vote and urged the people to establish at least 6,000 communes within the next two years. Currently, there are approximately 3,000 communes in Venezuela, varying in their level of consolidation, as well as around 5,334 communal circuits.
Tico Times: Rubio Labels Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba as Enemies of Humanity Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the governments of Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Cuba of being “enemies of humanity” and causing the migration crisis in the region. “These three regimes that exist in Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Cuba are enemies of humanity and have created a migration crisis. If it weren’t for these three regimes, there wouldn’t be a migration crisis in the hemisphere.” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel called Rubio’s statements “shameless,” while Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil accused him of having a “pathetic” and “sick obsession” with the three countries.
Peoples Dispatch: “We must remain united for the defense of our peoples”: ALBA stands against Trump The beginning of Donald Trump’s mandate, together with his immigration policy of massive deportations, the new tariff measures he announced on his neighbors, and the quest to keep Cuba diplomatically and economically ostracized, among others, brought ALBA member countries together to discuss the necessary precautions to face this new US administration. Its foreign policy seeks strengthen its hegemony over the entire American continent while also carrying out a zero-tolerance immigration policy towards the millions of Latino workers who sustain the US economy. [article includes statements from different ALBA leaders].
Granma: President Diaz-Canel: If nothing and nobody manages to divert us from our objectives, nothing and nobody will be able to prevent us from realizing our dreams We have to take into account that the issue is not only Cuba, the entire region of Latin America and the Caribbean is under threat, and only with unity can we face the articulation of the imperialist and oligarchic counter-offensive that sustains that threat…the US intends to define the options for the countries of the region, which are: either to submit to us or to be the object of aggression. We owe the Apostle of our independence [Jose Marti] a crucial reflection on how to act in the face of these challenges. “Neither peoples nor men respect those who do not make themselves respected”.
Daniel Ortega Calls on ALBA-TCP Countries to Defend Migrants’ Rights and Confront Imperialist Policies He noted the US was founded by migrants who arrived in a territory that did not belong to them and then occupied it by force, displacing and killing Indigenous peoples. He emphasized the need to stand in solidarity with migrant communities, which he said are being “trampled” by anti-immigration policies. “We hope that one day this anti-migration trend, which has intensified, will disappear, and that the contribution of immigrants to the economic and productive activity of that country will be valued.” The Nicaraguan president also highlighted that the most powerful “weapon” of the ALBA-TCP is the consciousness and dignity of its people, in the face of an imperialist campaign led by the US against Latin American and Caribbean nations. “We have a weapon more powerful than the atomic bomb: the consciousness and dignity of our people.”
ALBA-TCP expresses its support to the Mexican people and Government ALBA-TCP firmly supports President Claudia Sheinbaum and the Mexican people in the face of U.S. slander and interference and categorically rejects the groundless allegations that attempt to criminalize Mexico, while ignoring the historical responsibility of the U.S. government in the crisis of violence and drug trafficking affecting our region.
Internationalist 360 (Roger Harris): Venezuelan President Criticized for Not Being a Proper Dictator Hot off the newswires are shocking tales of democratic elections in Venezuela, grassroots organizations forming food cooperatives, and repatriation of migrants. What will one of the media establishment’s most demonized “authoritarian regimes” do next? …Proper dictators are supposed to use arms to repress their people but, according to InSight Crime, the Venezuelan leader has instead “distributed weapons to state workers and militias, potentially aiming to expand the country’s civilian army.”…Opposition to Trump’s policies are upwelling in the region. Maduro immediately voiced support for Petro when the US threatened sanctions and tariffs on neighboring Colombia.
TeleSur: President Maduro Denounces USAID-Backed Far-Right Politicians “The far-right is divided,” he said, alluding to U.S.-backed politicians such as Juan Guaido, Leopoldo Lopez, and Henrique Capriles. “They have deceived people and enriched themselves immensely. Now, all the corruption that we have denounced year after year is coming to light,” Maduro added. He stated that USAID provided over $700 million to Guaido to promote destabilizing actions against Venezuela.
Venezuela on USAID: Far-Right Opposition Figures Living in the US Very Worried The vice president of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Diosdado Cabello, said that Venezuela’s far-right thieves who live in the United States are very concerned about the recent USAID scandal due to the large amount of financial resources granted to operators who have not been accountable to them. Cabello condemned USAID for financing the Venezuelan opposition’s primary elections, along with financing pro-coup organizations such as Sumate and Provea.
Orinoco Tribune: Venezuela’s Army Destroys 3 Colombian Paramilitary Camps in Zulia State 655 packages of suspected cocaine and 1,400 liters of acetone were seized from the camps. President Maduro ordered the activation of the Lightning of Catatumbo Operation jointly with Colombia in order to stop the infiltration of Colombian paramilitaries into Venezuelan territory amid the armed conflict that is taking place in the Colombian Catatumbo region and that has left hundreds of people displaced and more than 80 dead.
Al Mayadeen: Chevron’s operations in Venezuela will continue, as US relations shift The United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) renewed a license, allowing American energy giant Chevron to continue its operations in Venezuela. Chevron operates several joint ventures with Venezuela’s PDVSA contributing significantly to the country’s vital energy sector.
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Events
February 9: Cuba: Doctors not Bombs Dr. Jose Arronte Villamarin, Cuban Ministry of Health. Speakers include Cuba’s Latin American Medical School (ELAM) graduates U.S. Coordinator Dr. Samira Mifatou Addrey, Dr. Jontay Darko, and Dr. Christine Knight; Palestinian-American ELAM medical student Ayman Salhab. Moderated by Dr. Howard Ehrman.
February 10: Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition monthly zoom meeting, 2:30 PM ET. Email NicaraguaSolidarityCoalition@gmail.com in advance to request Zoom access.
March 2, 3 pm ET, Nicaragua Webinar: Interview with S. Brian Willson, longtime anti-imperialist and peace activist, now Nicaraguan citizen.
March 15-16: New York City Cuba conference Includes a delegation from the Federation of Cuban Women and the National Union of Cuban Jurists.
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Delegations to Cuba, Nicaragua:
Cuba
April 17-May 3: Puerto Rico Brigada Juan Ruiz Rivera to Cuba
April 26- May 3: The Nation: Havana and Trinidad
April 27-May 9: May Day Delegation Itinerary Draft
Different Brigades and Solidarity Trips to Cuba
Witness for Peace delegations to Cuba
Friendly Planet delegations to Cuba
Nicaragua
Casa Ben Linder Email casabenjaminlinder@gmail.com to apply:
6-16 March 2025: Power & Protagonism: Women in Nicaragua
May 2025: Co-ops and Communities: Cooperative Movement in Nicaragua
June 2025: Global Health: Family and Community Health in Nicaragua
July 2025: Solidarity in Action: Nicaragua’s Popular Revolution
November 2025: Salud & Solidaridad: Hands-On Healthcare in Nicaragua
Date TBD 2025: Co-ops and Communities: Cooperative Movement in Nicaragua
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This is also available at ChicagoALBASolidarity.org. If you have events to publicize, send them to venezuelaweekly@afgj.org or stansfieldsmith100@gmail.com.
Chicago ALBA Solidarity 