By Olivia Discon
In a world riddled with corruption, inequity, and violence, it can be difficult to discern a sense of hope. Dictatorships, in particular, have continued to be a looming threat to international peace. Venezuela, a nation who is on the heels of communist countries such as Russia and China in its tyranny, is not as equally accredited on the world’s stage.
To learn the current state of Venezuelan affairs from the perspective of the former Venezuelan President could not have been a more informative and sobering account. With that, we drove to Houston to hear from President Juan Guaidó.
Maryanne Maldonado, the CEO of the World Affairs Council (WAC), started off the evening by emphasizing the importance of gatherings such as these. Through this, she gave LEAP a shoutout, saying;”Making the drive from Huntsville to Houston is a true commitment to education.”
A touching narrative of the President’s upbringing ensued, shared by Jose Valera. President Guaidó’s inspiration to tackle the tyranny in Venezuela began with a tragedy in his own life. After a natural disaster destroyed his childhood home, resulting in the deaths of many of his neighbors, he had come to realize the utter incompetency of the leadership in his country. In his early adulthood, Guaidó went on to join the 2007 Venezuelan Protests and founded his own political party, otherwise known as the Popular Will party.
In a conversation moderated by Ronan O’Malley, President Guaidó explained the conflict in Venezuela through the lens of his own experiences and the hopes he carries for his nation’s future.
President Guaidó reverberated with a resounding call for democracy, underlining the pressing need for transparent elections in Venezuela to authentically represent its people. Furthermore, it stressed the critical plea for international support and investment to facilitate the nation’s economic resurgence and stability.
Even now, amidst his tireless efforts for democracy, President Guaidó continues to grapple with the pervasive corruption that has plagued Venezuela. Just a week ago, the Venezuelan Public Ministry sought his arrest for misusing 19 billion dollars in state funds. This allegation is considered by the President as propaganda, a desperate attempt by those in power to undermine his legitimacy to those around the world that can’t distinguish nuances within the headlines. “We do not want to win a game if we have not participated…”, Guaidó remarked. “You can ask everyone (in Venezuela) if they desire peace or war, and 99% will answer peace… never forget the human factor!”
In a world overshadowed by oppression, gatherings like these offer a glimmer of hope and the belief that positive change is possible, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
Gusto Gourmet
After the event, we sought to savor the flavors of Venezuela by visiting Gusto Gourmet. The group indulged in tequeños, or Venezuelan cheese sticks, for our appetizer while we revisited the World Affairs Council meeting. For the main dishes, we had the opportunity to try Reina Pepiada, Arepa Pelua, and Pabellon Cachapa. This was a first for most of the students that evening, but was considered by Morgan as one of her favorite restaurants. The meal was not only satisfying but also gave us a valuable perspective, as we realized that the cost of just one of our dishes equals the monthly earnings of a Venezuelan citizen, which amounts to $15. With that, our night came to an end, not without hope, but with an understanding of the real-world obstacles and dynamics at play. As President Guaidó said himself “Is it easy? No. Is it possible? Of course.”
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 