He will hold a national referendum on August 19 2003, just 13 months from this year, to give the people of that Caribbean neighbour state of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the unrestricted opportunity to, according him: "Those who want to get rid of Chavez will have a constitutional, democratic opportunity at a referendum..."

As opponents of supporters of the populist, radical President continue to demonstrate in and out of Caracas, Chavez has pledged involvement that "should those who want me out manage to win the referendum, I'll collect my things and leave".

For a leader who has survived a 48-hour coup, over which there continues to be controversy over the extent of foreign involvement with segments of the armed forces and the influential business sectors, Chavez should be given the opportunity his administration needs to maintain stability in a democratic framework until the promised presidential referendum takes place next year.

After all, as the Organisation of American States, which just recently concluded its 32nd General Assembly in Barbados has recalled in urging constructive dialogue in the interest of democracy and peace, Chavez was elected with an overall majority of valid votes at internationally-supervised elections for a five-year period that expires in 2006.

His opponents are seeking Congressional approval to amend the country's constitution to remove him from power, by either shortening him term, or hold a referendum.

They must understand that to amend the constitution to thwart the expressed will of the electorate could set a dangerous precedent and prove counter-productive.

For a start, the Congressional parties supporting Chavez still control the majority, as even anti-Chavez analysts in Caracas have been conceding as of last weekend.

Chavez's claim about the depth of United States collaboration in the short-lived coup before his return as head of state and government in what was an unprecedented demonstration of "people's power" in the Latin American region, remains a matter of controversy with denials coming both from the White House and the U.S. State Department.

At least in the case of Iraq, it has been officially admitted that the presidential okay has been given for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to topple the regime of President Saddam Hussein, one of the so called "axis of evil" in the alleged sponsoring of terrorism.

There is no such claim in relation to Venezuela.