In a statement the regional body said, "We express our deep concern about the grave political situation confronting the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and deplore the acts of violence and other events which threaten to destabilise the democratic constitutional order in Venezuela."

CARICOM is urging the Government and all other social and political forces in Venezuela to promote peace and tolerance among all Venezuelans, to refrain from encouraging political confrontation and to seek reconciliation, peace and economic and social progress through dialogue and negotiations in good faith.

"We reiterate our resolute support for the Forum of Negotiation and Agreement, and for the efforts of the Secretary general of the Organisation of American States (OAS), in collaboration with the United nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Carter centre, to facilitate dialogue, with a view to arriving at a peaceful, democratic and constitutional solution to the crisis", the statement said.

CARICOM said it is satisfied that the OAS has through its resolution 833 resolved to fully support the democratic and constitutional order of Venezuela, whose Government is headed by President Hugo Chavez Frias, " and in this context we reject categorically any attempt at a coup d’ etat or unconstitutional or coercive alteration of the Venezuelan constitutional status."

The regional body supported the resolution because it approaches democracy on a principled basis and offered its support and assistance to Venezuela to consolidate democracy, "in accordance with the spirit and the letter of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and in the light of our own historical processes and long and fruitful tradition of democracy and defence of freedom and social justice."