Verónica Gutiérrez awoke to a barrage of WhatsApp messages from her family in Venezuela following a U.S. strike in Caracas that resulted in the apprehension of President Nicolás Maduro. The operation took place early Saturday, with Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, being removed from their residence at the Fort Tiuna military facility. Gutiérrez, who departed Venezuela in 2015, expressed a mix of hope and bewilderment at the development. She had long awaited Maduro’s removal from power and now contemplates the future under new circumstances.
“We have endured this dictatorship for 26 years,” Gutiérrez remarked, alluding to the reign of both Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chávez. She pondered the implications of this sudden change and its impact under the leadership of Trump. Concerned about her family’s well-being, Gutiérrez thought about her parents, who were stranded at her grandmother’s place during the holidays. Their usual route from Canada via Colombia to Venezuela was now disrupted due to the recent events.
In another account, Ivon Valdebenito, a Venezuelan residing in Halifax, expressed relief at Maduro’s removal, describing it as a long-awaited justice for her country. She vividly recalled the hardships faced in Venezuela, marked by hyperinflation and rampant crime, attributing these challenges to Maduro’s governance. The dire conditions in Venezuela have prompted millions to seek refuge abroad, with nearly eight million Venezuelans currently living outside their homeland.
Following the strike, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans for American intervention in Venezuela until a stable transition occurs. Valdebenito welcomed this intervention, hopeful that it could foster collaboration with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Meanwhile, Gutiérrez remained cautiously optimistic, expressing concerns about the treatment of Latin Americans in the U.S. amidst past deportation actions.
In Canada, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand issued a statement emphasizing the country’s commitment to monitoring global developments and upholding international law. Canada’s stance against the Maduro regime’s repression and human rights violations was reiterated. The future trajectory of Venezuela remains uncertain, with many hoping for a democratic and free society where diverse voices can be heard and respected.