Disagreement runs amok the Organization of American State’s committee room, but there is a consensus on one concept: Venezuela is a mess in more ways than one. A lack of food and medicine heavily taxes those who haven’t fled to neighboring countries to pursue economic opportunities in mostly unsafe conditions. Naturally, the people of Venezuela would peacefully protest to voice their opinions, but the government, under the rule of Nicolas Maduro, fails to meet their needs and instead sends forces to kill and injure those who speak against them. The delegate of Venezuela heavily reflects Maduro’s isolationist stances.
“To clarify,” he states once the possibility of short-term support from NGOs is brought up, “we will NOT accept any aid from the OAS. You would be asking us to give up our national sovereignty, to endure public embarrassment.”
Although Venezuela’s stances conflict with those of the rest of the committee, they fight valiantly to save their fellow member state.
In a brief one-on-one interview, the delegate of Mexico shares how she thinks the committee should handle the Venezuelan government’s treatment of their people.
“It’s not a topic that we’ve thoroughly discussed yet,” she admits, “but it has become increasingly clear that Venezuela is uncooperative. In the long term, we should focus on reforming their democratic ideals. In the short term, however, we should offer to lift their trade tariffs in exchange for the release of prisoners [from protests].”
During debate, she often brings up the notion of short- and long-term solutions in mind, which helps with the construction of more structured strategies. She, like other delegates in the room, realizes that although the ultimate goal is a sustainable solution, innocent people are starving, sick, and being held hostage.
The committee mostly consists of cunning and clever debaters, but, as Director Nick Young points out, more ways to view and analyze the problem at hand are currently left untouched. Time will tell if they are able to prevent Venezuela from lapsing into a bottomless pit of autocracy and malnourishment.
“To clarify,” he states once the possibility of short-term support from NGOs is brought up, “we will NOT accept any aid from the OAS. You would be asking us to give up our national sovereignty, to endure public embarrassment.”
Although Venezuela’s stances conflict with those of the rest of the committee, they fight valiantly to save their fellow member state.
In a brief one-on-one interview, the delegate of Mexico shares how she thinks the committee should handle the Venezuelan government’s treatment of their people.
“It’s not a topic that we’ve thoroughly discussed yet,” she admits, “but it has become increasingly clear that Venezuela is uncooperative. In the long term, we should focus on reforming their democratic ideals. In the short term, however, we should offer to lift their trade tariffs in exchange for the release of prisoners [from protests].”
During debate, she often brings up the notion of short- and long-term solutions in mind, which helps with the construction of more structured strategies. She, like other delegates in the room, realizes that although the ultimate goal is a sustainable solution, innocent people are starving, sick, and being held hostage.
The committee mostly consists of cunning and clever debaters, but, as Director Nick Young points out, more ways to view and analyze the problem at hand are currently left untouched. Time will tell if they are able to prevent Venezuela from lapsing into a bottomless pit of autocracy and malnourishment.