CARIBBEAN and African nations stood firm with Venezuela on the front line against imperialism in Caracas on Saturday.

The Todos Somos Venezuela (We are all Venezuela) solidarity conference broke up into workshops to debate a draft declaration condemning the US and other imperialist countries, the mainstream media war on the socialist government and demanding respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty.

Caribbean nations, which played a leading role in organising the summit, stressed the deep co-operation between Venezuela and the West Indies launched by late president Hugo Chavez with the Alba regional bloc and the Petrocaribe programme to supply fuel at below-market rates.

David Adbullah from Trinidad and Tobago said solidarity was crucial at this point as Venezuela was holding the line against imperialism while Dominican Senator Jahisiah Benoit expressed his country’s “firm solidarity” with Venezuela.

He called on delegates to “intensify education” on the “fruits of the revolution” such as Petrocaribe.