Leaders of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) met in St Vincent on Friday this week for its eighth summit, and affirmed that they want the region to remain a peaceful one.
Incoming president of the group of nations, Honduran President Xiomara Castro, told the leaders that the region has remained war-free despite challenges.
“Despite all the difficulties we have faced, we have managed to maintain our historical custom of being a war-free zone,” she said. “Today we must reaffirm our commitment that never will a people of Latin America and the Caribbean use violence against a brotherly country. The problems and differences among this bloc’s countries must be resolved among ourselves without external interference or pressure, using dialogue as a tool, and always thinking about regional well-being and the self-determination of peoples.”
She described herself as a peace defender.
“I am a defender of peace. Latin America must raise its voice,” she said.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of border tension between Venezuela and Guyana which escalated into a crisis in 2023 when Venezuela held a referendum claiming the Essequibo Region as its own. Nearly two-thirds of what is considered Guyana lies in the Essequibo, a 159,500-square-kilometre (62,000sq mile) area lush with jungles and farms.
The matter is presently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and tensions have largely subsided when the two countries agreed late last year to avoid escalation and try to settle the dispute diplomatically and without force. Despite this, Venezuela has bolstered its military presence near the border with Guyana and fears remain there could be open conflict.
However, addressing the CELAC summit, the president of Guyana Dr Irfaan Ali says his country remains committed to keeping Latin America and the Caribbean a Zone of Peace.
“We are prepared to accept the judgment of the Court on this matter,” he stated. “I can assure you that Guyana remains steadfast in its commitment to the international judicial process, as well as, to maintaining our region as a “Zone of Peace”. We want peace. We want prosperity for our neighbors and all in this region. We want to be our brother’s keeper with our neighbor.”
He said he is prepared to hold dialogue with Venezuela while the border issue is before the ICJ.
“I am prepared to speak with President Maduro on any aspect that may contribute to enhancing the relationship between our two countries,” he remarked.
The meeting was also dominated by Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip but the leaders failed to reach a unanimous declaration on it.
A total of 24 countries, out of CELAC’s 33, signed a declaration supporting the United Nations resolution for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Speaking at the final press conference of the summit, Honduras Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina said the “declaration was not fully signed by all members of CELAC” and that it was part of “internal debate.”
The summit was attended by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
Imagine, these Latin American and Caribbean countries cannot come to an unanimous decision to agree that the genocide against the people of Palestine by the Zionist State of ‘Israel’ must cease immediately. This blatant lack of commitment to human rights is egregious.
All of these countries are in an appalling economical state. They have reduced themselves to mendicancy. Therefore, they go to countries like ‘Israel’, even if they practise Apartheid, for assistance.
Shame on these beggarly governments that go globe trotting soliciting grants, donations, gifts and concessionary loans.
The unspeakable atrocities ‘Israel’ is committing on the Palestinians should rattle humanity. Have these heads lost their moral compass? Is money or assistance given by Apartheid Israel to these grossly mismanaged countries more important than the lives of human beings?
No prosperity (for all) No peace. A hungry baby must cry and carry-on disturbing the peace. If not, everyone will think all is well. Jesus was walking by one day and there was this blind man cried out to Jesus asking for His healing and mercy. Those in the crowd at the (CELAC) meeting told the needy man to keep quiet; but the Bible says that the needy blind man cried even louder calling on Jesus. Then Jesus stood still and commanded that the man be brought to Him and asked; what is it do you need? The man said, “That I may receive my sight.” And Jesus restored his sight. We are, and have been a peaceful country. All we need and want to see is prosperity for all people and not just for the “usual few.” Let’s play it fair and honest then if the big money from the good paying jobs happens to get to our heads causing us to act foolish and crazy; then you all can keep such meetings to talk about peace. Folks in high office are usually scared when they are doing bad. So they cry Wolf.