Saint Lucia's Prime Minister Kenny Anthony has defended a Caricom decision to vote in favour of Venezuela, for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Dr Anthony was responding to remarks by the US Ambassador in Guyana that Caribbean nations should not support Venezuela's bid. In an interview with the Associated Press Ambassador David Robinson said Caribbean countries should withhold their support because the South American country could hinder their ability to combat terrorism and nuclear proliferation. He's also quoted as saying that "the decision should be taken seriously with the future in mind, and that they should not try to signal symbolic displeasure with the U.S." Venezuela and Guatemala are competing for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Guatemala has the backing of the Washington while the Caribbean countries are throwing their support behind Venezuela. Making choices Prime Minister Anthony told BBC Caribbean that regional support for Venezuela is based on the need for what he called strong independent voices at the UN Security Council. "Countries sometimes have special interests - they need to assert their independence. They can't take instructions from one or other countries. "The fact that the Caribbean is supporting Venezuela on this issue, does not mean at all that you subscribe to Venezuela's views on all matters." Caricom member countries jointly control 14 votes at the U.N. Washington has lobbied to keep Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, from winning what some see as the high profile platform. Just this week while making his address to the UN General Assembly President Chavez referred to U.S. President George W. Bush as "the devil". The US has named Venezuela in what it called the "axis of evil" including Cuba, Iran and North Korea. St Lucian Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony, who has lead responsibility in Caricom for foreign affairs said: "We have strong and powerful differences with Venezuela on other issues. We don't necessarily agree with Venezuela's politics just as we don't always agree with US politics but we have a fundamental relationship with the United States." Reprinted from bbccaribbean.com