(Trinidad Guardian) Trinidad and Tobago is standing firmly for the region to remain a zone of peace, including respecting international law and the sovereign borders of all nations—including sister Caricom member Guyana.
This was made clear yesterday by Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne and T&T’s High Commissioner to Guyana Conrad Enill, in the wake of the Venezuelan referendum outcome on Guyana’s Essequibo district on Sunday.
Another statement is expected to be issued by Caricom on the issue shortly, Browne added.
Venezuelans approved moves to claim sovereignty of the oil-rich area in the vote on Sunday.
Last Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Venezuela refrain from taking any action which would modify the current situation where Guyana exercises control over the region.
Venezuela, however, rejected the ICJ ruling, subsequently slammed Caricom’s statement upholding this and called out Caricom partner states to return to objectivity and “distance themselves from the pre-conceived judgments of ExxonMobil and the US Southern Command” in order to continue guaranteeing a history of co-operation, integration and peace in the region.
Speaking after yesterday’s launch of the Caricom Single Market and Economy Focal Point Attachment programme, Browne told reporters the Guyana-Venezuela issue was on the Caribbean community’s minds and Caricom continues speaking with one united voice on this and will continue doing so.
He said T&T’s position was identical to Caricom’s.
“We can anticipate another statement which is in draft currently and which will be shared with the regional community in the reasonable future. We’re stronger together, we continue speaking with one voice on this matter,” he said.
“We continue calling for the maintenance of peace and respect for international law and the internationally recognised sovereign border of all nations, including our fellow Caricom member state Guyana. The position of Guyana and all of Caricom is that the border matter is properly before the ICJ at this time … we continue to call on all parties — respect the Caribbean Sea as a zone of peace and for all to conduct themselves with a peaceful common feature.”
Amid the situation, High Commissioner Enill said Guyana remains on high alert. He said he and the other six High Commission members in Georgetown were safe.
Reiterating Caricom’s position that the region remain a zone of peace, a position to which T&T subscribes, Enill added, “It is important for regional economic and social development that this remain in place.”
Enill noted that post-referendum, there had been messages on Sunday from Guyana’s leadership, including President Dr Irfaan Ali, who had assured Guyanese that there is nothing to fear over the next days or months ahead.
Ali, he said, also assured that Guyana’s course of vigilance will be enhanced and it is working around the clock to ensure that order remains intact and that the people and country remain safe.
“That, therefore, sets the tone for whatever is taking place in Guyana and that our expectation is that Venezuela and Guyana will observe the ICJ’s ruling,” Enill added.
“Clearly, there are concerns that people share generally about maintaining this region as a zone of peace because any activity or change to the status quo will impact investor confidence in the region. At this time, with all the economic challenges the region faces as a result of the war on Ukraine and the Israeli conflict, we’re very mindful of negative impacts if the current conditions change.”
Enill continued, “So we’re in a wait and see situation, observing how the event unfolds and mindful of the risks associated with any negative changes to our situation. We really hope nothing happens to interfere with the conditions that are required to deal with the bigger issues we have to face—climate change, food security, energy security—which are still very much in play.
“The question of ensuring citizens get the opportunity and have a better quality of life through improvement in infrastructure, education and other areas—all of this can be affected if things change. Therefore, a lot is riding on the region remaining a zone of peace—to which we all subscribe—so countries can continue their development programmes. My sense is that the principles of the ICJ’s ruling present the best opportunity for that to be maintained.”
Browne: UNC’s call ill-founded
Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne also said he was very disturbed by Opposition voices on the dispute which were once again trying to make themselves an outlier and get into foreign policy matters in which they had little expertise—but with a penchant for division and negative views.
He rebutted UNC claims on the Venezuela-Guyana issue, saying the Opposition had always sought to undermine Caricom’s position and T&T’s foreign policy.
Browne said, “Bizarrely, they now call for mediation and border negotiation when the clear Caricom/Guyana position is to properly treat with it via the ICJ. The UNC’s disconnected from Caricom and incoherent on regional matters. Their repeated call for involvement of any third party in negotiations/direct mediation between Venezuela and Guyana is in flagrant violation of Guyana’s national policy.
“Their comments on the border issue completely contradicts Caricom’s unanimous position, yet they make these statements claiming ‘solidarity’ with Caricom’s position.”
