Venezuela commemorated the 215th anniversary of its independence on Sunday with a ceremony in Saint Lucia that paid tribute to the victims of the devastating June 24 earthquake, while highlighting the resilience of the Venezuelan people and the international support received in the aftermath of the disaster.
The event, held at Bideau Park in Castries, brought together ambassadors, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and invited guests in a show of solidarity as Venezuela continues its recovery from one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in recent history.
Venezuelan Ambassador Lieff Escalona, speaking to the press on July 5, said the earthquake had prompted an outpouring of support from governments, institutions and individuals around the world.
“We received a lot of solidarity messages, a lot of support from different countries around the world, and different institutions, different people,” Escalona said.
She noted that the Saint Lucia commemoration was held on Sunday, July 5, and attended by several members of the diplomatic community, including representatives from Brazil and Mexico.
“And in our case in Saint Lucia, we had the opportunity to commemorate this date with a diplomatic corps present in Saint Lucia, the ambassador of Brazil, he came with us, and also the Chargé d’affairs of Mexico,” she said.
The ceremony featured musical performances and official tributes marking Venezuela’s independence while remembering those who lost their lives in the earthquake.
“All of them are wonderful musicians. They started with our national anthem, and we continue with the act, with the presence of the ambassador Peter Lansiquot, the ambassador from Saint Lucia to Venezuela, and different personalities like representative of the Minister of Education, diplomatic corps, as I said, and a lot of friends from Saint Lucia,” Escalona explained.
Reflecting on the country’s recovery efforts, the ambassador expressed confidence that Venezuela would rebuild through national determination and international solidarity.
“With the efforts of those at home, the firm leadership of our institutions, of our government, the government of Venezuela, and the valuable solidarity of brotherly peoples and governments around the world, we will lift every stone, heal every wound, and honor the memory of those who are no longer with us,” she said.
The ceremony served as both a celebration of Venezuela’s independence and a moment of remembrance, underscoring the country’s resolve to recover while recognizing the continued support of its regional and international partners.