The dual function in Caracas came under scrutiny following the new decree appointing Héctor Pastor Vásquez Frías as Consul General of the Dominican Republic in Venezuela, while the previous appointment of Jaime Marte Martínez was still in effect. The dual function in Caracas raises a basic question: who validly holds the Dominican consular representation today.
The official announcement regarding Héctor Pastor Vásquez Frías came via Decree 351-26, signed on June 1, 2026, according to content published by El Pregonero. The piece introduces him as the new consul general in Caracas, but does not clarify whether there was a revocation of the previous appointment, a prior resignation, or an administrative transfer.
That vacuum is what fuels the dual function in Caracas. In practical terms, a consular office should not operate with two simultaneous heads without an explicit order defining the transition.
Jaime Marte Martínez and the immediate precedent
Prior to this new decree, Jaime Marte Martínez had been appointed consul general in Caracas via Decree 573-25, issued in October 2025. Available information does not specify whether that appointment was rendered void, which keeps the dual function in Caracas open and leaves questions regarding the administrative chain applied by the Executive Branch.
The lack of public clarification turns a consular handover into a case of institutional interpretation.
What remains to be clarified regarding the dual function in Caracas
So far, it has not been publicly reported whether Jaime Marte Martínez submitted his resignation, whether he was moved to another mission, or whether the new decree implies an automatic replacement. Nor are there official details cited regarding a communication from MIREX explaining the transition.
A sensitive point for Dominican representation
The dual function in Caracas gains greater relevance because diplomatic relations between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have experienced operational limitations. In this context, any change of consular head requires documentary precision to avoid doubts about validity, jurisdiction, and institutional functioning.
- Decree 573-25: appointed Jaime Marte Martínez.
- Decree 351-26: designated Héctor Pastor Vásquez Frías.
- No explicit revocation was publicly reported.
- It was not clarified whether there was a resignation or prior transfer.
Dual function in Caracas: the questions that remain open
The dual function in Caracas affects not only the political reading of the appointment, but also the administrative transparency of the process. If there was a replacement, it must be formally backed; if there was not, the Executive Branch and MIREX would need to specify who exercises the headship of the consulate.
For now, the verifiable fact is that there are two successive decrees linked to the same position in Caracas, without a public explanation to close the gap. Until that happens, the dual function in Caracas will remain the primary doubt regarding Dominican consular representation in Venezuela.
