Caribbean bishops call for day of prayer amid rising regional tensions

Caribbean Anglican bishops have called for a regional day of prayer for peace, warning that escalating military activity in the Southern Caribbean is threatening lives, livelihoods and long-standing hopes for the region to remain a zone of peace.

In a statement dated 29 December, the Antilles Episcopal Conference said the geopolitical situation had deteriorated rapidly since October, pointing to increased military operations, tanker seizures, expanded naval deployments and airspace restrictions affecting daily life across the region.

The bishops said the Caribbean Sea – home to fisherfolk, seafarers, coastal communities and migrants – was becoming a theatre of confrontation “not of our making”, with recent maritime incidents and blockades heightening risks to civilians.

They warned that the developments were worsening humanitarian conditions, particularly in Venezuela, while also placing pressure on maritime التجارة, tourism and the livelihoods of thousands who depend on open and safe seas.

While acknowledging the responsibility of states to combat transnational crime and uphold international law, the conference said militarisation was not a path to lasting security. It argued that heightened operations by global and regional powers risked deepening mistrust, disrupting economies and endangering the most vulnerable.

“War, or the threat of war, is always a defeat for humanity,” the statement said.

The bishops also expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela, saying they supported calls for democratic renewal, justice and peace, based on consultations with Venezuelan bishops and other church leaders.

They urged Caribbean communities to respond with prayer, attention and solidarity, reiterating their vision of the region as a zone of peace.

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