The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) in Barbados has con-demned Prime Minister Mia Mottley for what it said is her failure to take a strong stance against Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s Essequibo.
“The DLP is greatly concerned that the leadership of Barbados is failing to support Guyana against Venezuela’s move to annex the Essequibo region of Guyana. This position follows a previous statement by DLP leader Dr. Ronnie Yearwood which con-demned Venezuela’s referendum to incorporate Essequibo as part of the territory of Venezuela. Dr Yearwood also criticized Bar-badian Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s failure to unequi-vocally condemn Venezuela’s claim to Essequibo as wrong”, a statement from the party said.
Guyana has said that the referendum questions if approved would be tantamount to the annexation of its territory.
Speaking at a DLP St. Michael Central branch meeting held on 19 November 2023, Dr Yearwood said that “Barbados and CARICOM must stand on the right side of history in supporting Guyana’s territorial sovereignty.”
The statement said that he urged Barbados to follow CARICOM in taking a clear unified position against Vene-zuela’s claims to Essequibo. Dr Yearwood noted that Venezuela’s actions not only affect Guyana but also threaten peace and security within the Caribbean region.
The statement said that Dr Yearwood condemned the approach of the Mottley-led administration as “hedging its bets and playing both sides, especially given the recent meetings and upcoming agree-ments the (Barbados Labour Party) administration has been seeking to conclude with Guyana and Venezuela”.
Dr Yearwood cited the historical cooperation between Democratic Labour Party founder and Prime Minister of Barbados, Errol Barrow and President of Guyana, Forbes Burnham in negotiating the agreement establishing CARICOM. This agreement, he said, has set the tone in large measure for the friendly relations that Guyana and Barbados have enjoyed, and the outstanding working relationship with mutual benefits to both sides. Dr Yearwood also noted that many Barbadians have settled in Guyana.
He urged CARICOM coun-tries that are signatories to the Venezuela-Caribbean Petro-Caribe oil procurement agree-ment to resist attempts to use the agreement as leverage to gain support for Venezuela.
“Dr Yearwood believes that supporting CARICOM states when their sovereignty is undermined is inherent to the foreign policy of CARICOM. On this basis, CARICOM should support Guyana’s defense of its territory in the case currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Additionally, Dr Yearwood noted that Barbados and CARICOM have always supported the international rule of law and the peaceful settle-ment of disputes. Therefore, Dr Yearwood calls for Venezuela to respect the ICJ process and fully comply with interim orders of the ICJ. He also urges Guyana and Venezuela to comply with the final ICJ decision when it is delivered”, the statement said.
Mottley’s position on the tensions between Guyana and Venezuela over the referendum and related matters has been criticised in Stabroek News editorials and elsewhere.
Responding to critics, Mottley at a press conference at the Grantley Adams International Airport on Friday defended her position.
“Caricom has issued a very strong statement in support of Guyana. We have all as individual countries issued that…The fact that I have said two weeks ago at my annual conference that we, inspite of that, that Venezuela is a friend as well so that therefore we would like to see the Caribbean remain a zone of peace seems to have excited condemnation…But I have come to public life to promote peace not division. But I am equally conscious that in our lives that things will not always go as we would like.
“In this particular case, in our view, Guyana’s position has been strong. It has been unwavering and it is before the International Court of Justice and we have backed them 150% with that. But equally we understand that where there is not the appropriate opportunity to keep temperatures down then things can happen that go beyond our control”.
