In light of the continuing border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, Heads of Government of CARICOM have said they support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member states under international law.
The Heads met in Guyana, a member of CARICOM, for the Thirty-Seventh Regular Meeting of the Conference in Georgetown on 4 – 6 July 2016.
“Heads of Government received a report on recent development in the relations between Guyana and Venezuela,” a communique released after the meeting said. “They also received a report on the current efforts of the Secretary-General (SG) of the United Nations proposing a way forward to the two countries towards a decisive end to the controversy.”
The communique continues, “Heads of Government noted with appreciation that the SG of the United Nations attaches the highest priority to finding a solution to the controversy which arose out of Venezuela’s contention that the Arbitral award of 1899 which definitively settled the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela is null and void.”
It said the Heads signal “their full confidence in the Secretary-General to exercise urgently his authority under the 1966 Geneva Agreement for a choice of options that would bring the controversy to a definitive and judicial conclusion that would be beneficial not only to Guyana but the Caribbean Community as a whole. Heads of Government reiterated their full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all CARICOM States and their entitlement to rights regarding maritime zones under international law.”
In June 2015, President of Venezuela issued Decree 1787 and a map also produced which indicates that Venezuela is now claiming all the territorial waters within 200 miles range and blocking Guyana’s access to territorial waters and resources in the area of the Atlantic Ocean and the Essequibo region.
It was the second decree that the Venezuelans had issued expressing a claim to Guyana’s territorial waters.
The first was issued by President Raul Leoni in July 1968, who claimed rule over a 12-mile strip continental shelf along the Essequibo coast.
In a meeting in Barbados last year, CARICOM Heads expressed grave concerns over Decree 1787 and disagreed with Venezuela in the dispute.
In July 2015, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has made it clear that the dispute would not affect Dominica’s relationship with Venezuela.
Even if Guyana gave them what they want there will still be no toilet Paper on the shelves in the shops there because Venezuela is being sucked dry .
Is Skeritt still persuading Countries to go get their share ?
And how about togetherness so that Venezuela does not encroh on the souveringty of Gayana. After all daddy Maduro should be the first to talk of unity. A socialist government demonstating how greedy it can get. Venezuela has so many problems why bother with Gayana.
The country [government] that talks so much about sovereignty and respect for nations is doing all in it’s power to infringe on the territory of it’s close neighbour.
Caricom is nothing more than a dysfunctional union…Why for example all the members know that the Dominica Labour Party DLP is the worst in the region,probably in the Commonwealth,but pressure cannot be made to bear on this gang to adhere to the Democratic principles of good governance..These wickeds in the DLP have dismantled all state institutions,called upon supporters to harrass supporters of the opposition,has corrupted the voting process,has no accountability or transparency in matters of state,has impoverished the country to perpetuate in power,neglected to take care of Marigot hospital,treat Salisbury people like aliens,allow lying cheating and stealing to reign supreme on island,etc,etc,etc,…ISNT THAT OF CONCERN TO CARICOM?No wonder so many people refer to this organisation as a BOYS CLUB!!!
How about Bird island? Is it true that Skerrit did a deal with Hugo Chavez to relinquish any future claims? If so, how much was he paid?