Above: Grenada

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The government of Grenada issued a statement Thursday expressing its “increasing concern” over the situation in Venezuela.

Grenada said it was concerned by the “latest tendency of forces to resort to the use of violence during recent protests.”

The country, which echoed a similar call made Wednesday by CARICOM, said “Political differences and disputes must not be done at the expense of peace and stability, and the wider cause of the nation.”

“Any attempts, from whichever side of the political spectrum, to stir unrest and chaos must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” the government said. “It must be noted that there were two national elections within the last year in Venezuela — Presidential and Local government — and the people through democratic means expressed their support for the leadership of President Nicolas Maduro.”

The latest violence in Venezuela has led to the deaths of at least six people in violent clashes in the context of what began as student protests.

Grenada and Venezuela have steadily deepened ties in recent years, with Grenada announcing last month plans to join the Venezuela-led ALBA alliance.