Sharing the view that public awareness on the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy needs to be amplified swiftly, the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations yesterday agreed that a motion be laid in the National Assembly to ensure this process,
“We spoke about the collaboration on the public relations and [sensitization] campaign. We are working on having a joint parliamentary motion to deliberate on the same matter; that is to deal with all of the events coming out of Caracas and Guyana’s strong commitment on preserving its sovereignty,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd, who chaired yesterday’s sitting, told Stabroek News.
Former Minister Raphael Trotman was the last Chairperson of the Committee but he had resigned and the process to trigger another has not yet happened. The Speaker of the National Assembly is supposed to convene a meeting of the Committee before a new Chair can be selected but this is still to happen.
“That motion will be dealt with in an extraordinary sitting and as soon as possible,” he added.
Todd said that he updated the Committee on the status of the border controversy case at the International Court of Justice, the actions coming out of Caracas and this country’s unified reaction and responses as well as a few strategies on going forward.
APNU+AFC parliamentarian and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amanza Walton-Desir, echoed that a motion for the National Assembly was discussed and that both sides agreed that a strong national edification exercise was needed on the issue.
“We decided on the content of a strong PR [public relations] campaign throughout the country and so we’re going to see the outworking of that,” she said.
“…It was a fruitful discussion. I think we’ve been able to understand the issues. We have decided on some bipartisan actions that you’ll see unfolding over the next few days,” she added.
On the Committee, government’s representatives are the Minister of Foreign Affairs who is substantively the Vice Chairperson, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame Mc Coy, Minister of Housing Susan Rodrigues, Dr Jennifer Westford, and Bhagmattie Veerasammy.
On the Opposition’s side are Walton-Desir, Ronald Cox, Devin Sears, and Tabitha Sarabo-Halley.
From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were Per-manent Secretary, Ambas-sador Elisabeth Harper, Foreign Service Officer Sharmayne Balram, and Director of Frontiers Donette Streete.
Yesterday’s Committee meeting followed one held on Tuesday between the Government and the Opposition. Both sides held discussions on the growing tensions and threat by Venezuela to this country and denounced Caracas’ planned December 3rd referendum as a violation of treaties, saying they stand “completely” united on Guyana’s sovereignty and no effort would be spared to ensure this.
“In discussing the latest actions by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in pursuit of its spurious claim to the Essequibo territory of Guyana, President Ali and Opposition Leader Mr. Norton from the outset, agreed that Guyana’s sovereignty is of paramount importance and is a matter on which the Guyanese people are all completely united,” a joint statement following the meeting read.
Flagrant violation
“To this end, they condemned the flagrant violation of the rule of law by Venezuela and agreed that no effort should be spared to resist that country’s persistent endeavours to undermine Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it added.
The statement said that President Irfaan Ali and the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton agreed that the protection of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state must be served by a vigorous and comprehensive public relations programme coupled with a proactive and robust diplomatic effort aimed at blunting Venezuelan propaganda and misinformation as they relate to the territorial controversy generally, and the 1966 Geneva Agreement in particular.
They also, “reaffirmed the commitment to the current judicial process that is being conducted under the aegis of the International Court of Justice and are convinced that this would finally resolve the question raised by Venezuela over the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award,” the statement said.
Further, it added, “They recalled that for more than six decades after the 1899 Arbitral Award was delivered, Venezuela treated the Award as a final settlement of the border between the two countries.”
Both sides noted that it is to this end, it “consistently recognised, affirmed and relied upon the 1899 Arbitral Award as “a full, perfect, and final settlement” of the boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela. In particular, between 1900 and 1905, Venezuela participated in a joint demarcation of the boundary, in strict adherence to the letter of the 1899 Arbitral Award, and emphatically refused to countenance even minor technical modifications of the boundary line described in the Award.”
The statement reminded of the history and that Venezuela had proceeded to formally ratify the demarcated boundary in its domestic law and thereafter published official maps, which depicted the boundary following the line described in the 1899 Award.
Government had on Monday said that the upcoming national referendum in Venezuela on this country’s county of Essequibo would be tantamount to annexation of territory and a crime of aggression.
In a statement it had issued, it highlighted the fifth question on the referendum which seeks the “approval of the Venezuelan people to create a new state of Venezuela that incorporates the county of Essequibo into the national territory of Venezuela.” The granting of Venezuelan citizenship and identity cards to Guyanese citizens who are domiciled within the county of Essequibo amounts to annexation, says the government, and carries the potential to lead to incitement of violence, to threaten the peace and security of the State of Guyana, and by extension, the Caribbean region.
President Ali told Stabroek News on Tuesday that, “The GDF is monitoring all activities along our borders. They are paying particular attention to activities by the Venezuelan military. Our Regional and International partners are also updated on all activities.”
When the Opposition exited the meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Norton told reporters that both sides stand united and that it was underscored that edification of citizens on the issue should be paramount.
Both President Ali and Norton “agreed to keep in close consultation on this matter of national importance,” their joint statement pointed out.
Venezuela began ratcheting up tensions after Guyana announced the opening last month of bids for offshore blocks for oil exploration. The heightened tensions also come on the heels of a deal in Barbados between the Venezuelan government and the opposition which has resulted in an easing of US sanctions.
