President Hugo Chavez arrives in Dominica

photo courtesy: The Sun Newspaper    

After weeks of speculation and uncertainty surrounding his visit, we can indeed confirm that Hugo Chavez, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, moments ago landed at the Canefield airport a little after 12:00pm. And although neither the government nor the Venezuelan embassy here had disclosed the estimated time of arrival for the presidential visit, the media and hundreds of eager Dominicans have been camped outside the airport since 6:00am awaiting his arrival. It was however rumored and later confirmed that Chavez had in fact landed at the Melville Hall Airport earlier in the morning and had spent the time visiting with the Venezuelan Core of Army Engineers engaged in earth moving operations at the airport development project in Marigot. Nevertheless, after six grueling hours in waiting, the much anticipated Venezuelan leader finally touched down at Canefield onboard a military helicopter.

     President Hugo Chavez disembarked to the thunderous applause of his official welcoming party and hundreds of curious onlookers. Everyone seemed to have been overcome with awe as the President made his way down the red carpet to the airport lounge dressed in his trademark flush red long-sleeved shirt, flanked by security personnel. Accompanying him as well on the flight from Melville Hall to Canefield was Reginald Austrie and Rayburn Blackmore. Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit officially welcomed the Venezuelan leader with an uncharacteristic bear hug as if announcing to the world that these were two friends overjoyed to be reunited. Following the national anthems of the respective countries and inspection of the guard of honour, the Prime Minister introduced the Venezuelan head of state to the members of his cabinet.

     At this point, if nothing else was known of the Venezuelan head of state, it was immediately evident that he was one of Latin America and the Caribbean’s most charismatic, down-to-earth and affable leaders. Chavez personally shook hands and exchanged greetings with practically every member of the cabinet, Venezuelan mission, persons present at the official welcome ceremony and airport staff. One official described his short time with Chavez as “the greatest moment of my life.” Chavez even stopped to greet the school children, embraced, kissed and posed for photographs with them. But it was his sudden stopover on the canefield highway, outside the security perimeter of the airport, to shake hands with the Cubans, Venezuelans and Dominicans who had lined the street to welcome him that surprised many. Judging from his carefree and upbeat mood, the President appeared completely at ease and at home in Dominica.

     It was anticipated that President Chavez would have delivered brief remarks at Canefield and field a few questions from the press. Unfortunately, that was not to be. Chavez’s next scheduled stop is at the State House in Roseau where he is expected to pay a courtesy call on President Nicholas Liverpool and sign four cooperative agreements with Dominica in education, economic and social development, information and communications technology and tourism. From the State House, he will proceed to Jimmit for the official opening of the Petrocaribe Oil Storage facility