September 24, 2004
President Chávez sees off vessels carrying hurricane aid to Caribbean
(Radio Nacional de Venezuela) - President Hugo Chávez gave a speech at Port La Guaira, Vargas State, during a ceremony to mark the departure of vessels carrying hurricane aid for Caribbean countries (…) President Chávez said this event has 'extraordinary' meaning for all Venezuelans (…)

The President pointed out that the Caribbean Basin is part of Venezuela's home (…) Also, he added that this has been a 'tragic' hurricane season. (…) The president recalled the profound Bolivarian tradition of the Caribbean peoples. He went on to talk about the historical links between Venezuela and the Caribbean.

President Chávez told the soldiers involved in this mission that he would be so proud to be playing a direct part in transporting this aid. The president recalled that nearly five years ago the fury of nature was unleashed on Venezuela and specifically on Vargas State. He pointed out that the peoples of the Caribbean, despite being poor, sent aid to Venezuelan when that occurred (…) He said that this must be thanked with eternal, profound and truthful gestures of solidarity".