Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez in an impassioned speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations, did not hold back in criticizing US President George W. Bush, referring to him as “the devil” who came to the UN (the day before) “talking as if he was the owner of the world.” Although some see his speech as disrespectful to the US president on US soil, was Chavez really bent on disrespecting Bush, or was it a part of his campaign for ensuring that Venezuela wins a seat on the United Nations Security Council, when that country goes up against Guatemala for the vacant seat in next month’s election.? Chavez was speaking to an audience that included many Caribbean, Latin American, and other Third World countries that are believed to be in support of Venezuela’s bid. Showing that he is in no way intimidated by the U.S, or its president, Chavez may have been seeking to strengthen his claim for being elected.

As far as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is concerned, according to former United Nations Ambassador, and former St. Lucian Minister of External Affairs, Julian Hunte there are political benefits for the Caribbean’s support of Venezuela's bid to win a seat on the Security Council, which the Caribbean states at their last summit in St. Kitts in July seems willing to do.

Hunte said he expects the Caribbean to support Venezuela on the issue, and that the islands could benefit from the ongoing lobbying process.

"In these types of elections the CARICOM vote is important, in fact every vote counts, so although CARICOM cannot influence the rest of Latin America as to which way they would vote, both parties, Venezuela and Guatemala, would want to secure the Caribbean vote as a bloc vote," he said in a radio broadcast.

"This situation gives CARICOM an opportunity to look at what its needs are.
What is Guatemala offering? They may say they will drop claims against Belize as far as their territorial dispute is concerned. On the other hand, Venezuela may very well say there are certain clauses in the PetroCaribe (oil) deal that we may wish not to exercise, so its that kind of give and take situation that takes place in the world of diplomacy," Hunte noted.

"So it is all about what someone would like you to do to help them and in turn for addressing issues you would like to have them settle," Hunte added.

The former President of the UN General Assembly said with CARICOM supporting Venezuela and the United States supporting Guatemala, he does not anticipate any grave implications or additional strain on CARICOM/US relations.

"I cannot see why there would be any adverse consequences for the region. I think the US appreciates now that CARICOM cannot be pushed around; there was clear evidence of that at the start of the Iraq war.

"We can expect the US to extend some pressure on a CARICOM vote for Venezuela which will be resisted but they will understand that this is the way it goes," he added.

"There are other issues that we support them on and those that we don't, and I think it would be high handed and totally ridiculous and unnecessary if they chose to react. The question would be, react how? "

"They may register their displeasure as in the case of our opposition to their war against Iraq and then we move on to the next issue," Hunte said.