In the wake of destructive powerful earthquakes that have left widespread devastation across Venezuelan communities, Caribbean nations have unified under the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) banner to launch a coordinated humanitarian relief operation, with Belize committing critical emergency supplies to the effort.
On Wednesday, three 40-foot containers carrying Belize’s donated aid departed from the Port of Georgetown in Guyana, marking a key milestone in the regional mission. The Belizean contribution is integrated into a much larger convoy: a single cargo vessel carrying a total of 88 containers of emergency provisions collected from donor nations across the Caribbean is now en route to the quake-stricken regions of Venezuela.
Senior diplomatic and government officials attended the departure ceremony to mark the solidarity of the Caribbean bloc. In attendance were Her Excellency Gale Miller Garnett, Belize’s High Commissioner to Guyana, and Mark Phillips, Prime Minister of Guyana, whose country has served as a coordination hub for the regional relief effort.
In remarks following the ceremony, Ambassador Miller Garnett emphasized the deep reciprocal solidarity driving Belize’s contribution. She noted that the moment carried profound emotional weight, as the country was finally able to return the decades of support Venezuela extended to Belize through the PetroCaribe initiative and other assistance programs.
“It was a wonderful feeling because it was a symbol of Belize standing with the Venezuelan people during this incredibly difficult time,” Miller Garnett said. “Just yesterday, I signed the book of condolences at the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown, and the Venezuelan ambassador shared firsthand reports of just how devastating the damage is back home. It was an emotional moment. Venezuela was there for us for so many years through PetroCaribe, through so many different forms of assistance. So it was a proud moment for us to step up to help them now, with the logistical support of Guyana.”
Details of Belize’s donation confirm the containers are stocked with supplies prioritized by Venezuelan emergency response teams: a range of pharmaceutical products for treating injuries and preventing post-quake disease outbreaks, non-perishable food items to feed displaced communities, and bulk cleaning supplies to support sanitation efforts in damaged residential areas.
Historically, Venezuela held status as one of Belize’s most critical trading partners throughout the duration of the PetroCaribe energy cooperation agreement, which provided affordable petroleum access to Caribbean nations for decades and supported economic stability across the region. Today, that historical partnership has translated to tangible solidarity as the Caribbean comes together to support Venezuela through its current crisis.