Caribbean leaders seeking discounted oil criticize US sanctions against Venezuela

By BERT WILKINSON
Associated Press

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Caribbean leaders are denouncing U.S. economic sanctions against oil-rich Venezuela and say they’ve been forced to buy costlier petroleum elsewhere as they struggle with tight budgets. Members of a Caribbean trade bloc known as Caricom called on Friday for removal of the sanctions. They say the sanctions prevent them from accessing oil at a discounted rate as part of a deal with Venezuela known as Petrocaribe. Officials say the issue was raised with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken when he met with Caribbean leaders this week at a Caricom conference in Trinidad.