Venezuela’s electoral commission has announced that new presidential elections are to be held on April 14.

The announcement follows the appointment of Chavez's handpicked successor, Nicolas Maduro, to act as president.

Chavez, who served as Venezuela’s president for the past 14 years, died last Tuesday after a long battle with cancer.

Maduro is expected to contest the elections as the candidate for governing party while Henrique Capriles is expected to be his opponent.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was in Venezuela yesterday to attend Chavez’s funeral.

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