CARICOM chairman, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, said the recent Venezuelan presidential elections held on July 28 were an internal matter and Caricom had no overall position on the results. He answered reporters' question at a briefing at the closing of the Caricom heads meeting in Grenada on July 30.

Venezuela's National Electoral Council declared victory for President Nicolas Maduro with 51 per cent of the vote, ahead of 44 per cent for his main rival Edmundo González, but the council is viewed as pro-Maduro. The Venezuelan Opposition said González won the election with 70 per cent of votes.

Violent street protests have since erupted, leading to 11 reported deaths and hundreds of arrests.

The reporter asked Mitchell if a lack of reference to the election results in Caricom's closing statement meant member states were divided on it.

Mitchell replied, "It is not an indication Caricom is divided on the issue. Caricom does not have to have a position on the issue.

"Elections in Venezuela are a domestic matter, first."

Secondly, he said Venezuela was not a member of Caricom.

"Third, we expect, and it has already happened, that members will indicate their positions.

"Caricom noted the fact that the elections have taken place. We are happy with the fact that the people of Venezuelan got the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to engage in elections. So, no there is no division in Caricom on the issue because there is really no need for Caricom to have a division on the issue."

Another reporter asked if Caricom has a united position on a need for a verification process for the election results.

Mitchell replied, "I am not even sure I should respond to your question. It almost presumes Caricom knows for a fact that there is no verification process in Venezuela and I don't know that Caricom knows that.

"What I know for a fact is that elections were held and a declared winner was announced and that it is being challenged or disputed. I don't know that there is no verification process. Elections are held everywhere. Sometimes they are disputed, sometimes they are not, and respectfully it is not Caricom's position to come out and say that there ought to be a verification of any country's election."

Brazil President Lula de Silva, US President Joe Biden, and the Organisation of American States (OAS) have called for the release of voting data.

Chile President Gabriel Boric said, "The results are hard to believe." Uruguay President Luis Lacalle Pou said it was "an open secret" Maduro would win whatever the results. Costa Rica, El Salvador and Peru dubbed the results "fraudulent."

Ecuador President Daniel Noboa lamented "the dangers of dictatorship" and "politicians who cling to power."

Argentine President Javier Milei said, "Not even (Maduro) believes the electoral scam he is celebrating."

However, China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua and Bolivia have offered congratulations to Maduro.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said, "Nicolas Maduro, my brother, your vict