Venezuela government, opposition reopen Barbados talks

Representatives for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido reopened talks in Barbados on Wednesday to resolve the country’s political crisis.

Three weeks ago during previous talks in Barbados, the rival factions agreed to set up a platform for negotiations mediated by Norway, where the first talks were held in May.

“We’ve started another round of meetings under the Oslo mechanism,” Guaido’s envoy and legislator Stalin Gonzalez tweeted.

Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed in a news conference that Maduro representatives had traveled to Barbados to meet the opposition.

Later in the day, Maduro said in a televised address that the ruling party aims to establish a “platform of permanent dialogue” with the opposition, and proposed bringing in businessmen and social movements.

Crisis-wracked Venezuela has been mired in a political impasse since January when Guaido proclaimed himself acting president, quickly receiving the support of more than 50 countries.

The oil-rich, cash-poor country has been in a deep recession for five years. Shortages of food and medicine are frequent, and public services are progressively failing.