The Cuban ambassador to The Gambia, Lazaro Herrera Martinez, and former Gambian students to Venezuela witnessed the occasion.
In his speech, ambassador Eduardo Medina Rubio said despite his short life, the late president had transformed Venezuela by his courageous struggle to make the Venezuelan masses the protagonists of their destiny.
According to Rubio, the Chavez government transformed the social, economic and political life of the country, such that the indicators on these sectors changed in favour of the poor majority.
The wealth of the country has been marked for true development of hundreds of thousands of homes, healthcare and schools throughout the country, he said.
“The Bolivarian Revolution settled a government of a sovereign state determined to control its own resources and markets. Venezuela today can enjoy a participatory democracy,” he added.
According to Ambassador Rubio, the late Chavez had championed socialism, national liberation, international solidarity and the integration of Latin American and Caribbean countries, and was someone who reaffirmed the African and indigenous roots of Venezuelan and Latino America culture.
He pointed out that after the election of the current President Nicolas Maduro, the right wing and the fascist groups have carried out numerous terrorist acts.
“The goal of the Bolivarian process is socialism of the 21st century, where every human being can enjoy guaranteed rights of healthcare, education, housing, jobs, equality, culture, social peace and international solidarity,” he stated.
“We expressed our strong condemnation of the unacceptable and unjustified unilateral sanctions imposed on Venezuela, and the continuing external intervention in order to create a climate of instability in our country,” he added.
