‘A really serious time’

As tensions between the United States (US) and Venezuela build, a senior retired diplomat is cautioning that if it escalates into open conflict, trade in the region and tourism, on which most CARICOM states, including Jamaica, depend heavily would be significantly impacted. Both the BBC and CBS News reported last week that three US B-52 bomber aircraft circled an area close to the Venezuelan coast on Wednesday, as the US continues to increase pressure on the Nicolás Maduro administration.