Kingstown, St Vincent & The Grenadines – December 14, 2023:
Talks commenced on Thursday between Presidents Irfaan Ali of Guyana and Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela in St Vincent & The Grenadines. These discussions aim to address the longstanding territorial dispute over the Essequibo Region, administered by Guyana but claimed by Venezuela.
[Image courtesy NBC Radio St Vincent and the Grenadines]
The facilitated talks, organized by the Community of States of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), bring together key leaders to explore avenues for de-escalation and resolution. The venue, the Argyle International Airport, holds symbolic importance as a facility commissioned in 2017 with support from Cuba and Venezuela, highlighting regional collaboration.
St Vincent & The Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, serving as a facilitator and interlocutor for the talks, expressed optimism about the outcomes. He emphasized the significance of the meeting as a crucial step toward regional stability and cooperation.
Gonsalves noted the courage, perspicacity, and foresight of Presidents Ali and Maduro, commending their commitment to dialogue amid complex geopolitical challenges. The talks, attended by several CARICOM leaders, including CARICOM Chairman Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, are seen as a pivotal moment in addressing the ongoing dispute.
The recent Venezuelan referendum, where 95% of votes reportedly supported the annexation of the Essequibo region, has heightened tensions. President Maduro’s subsequent announcements, including the withdrawal of foreign companies within three months and the creation of a military unit, added complexities to the situation.
[Image courtesy NBC Radio St Vincent and the Grenadines]
Before the talks, President Ali reaffirmed the importance of facts, citing the 1899 Award as a defining border reference. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) had ruled that both parties should refrain from actions aggravating the dispute. The talks aim to explore diplomatic solutions to de-escalate the situation and address consequential matters related to the border controversy.
One Comment
“Crucial Talks Begin in St Vincent & The Grenadines Over Guyana-Venezuela Territorial Dispute” Your headline is incorrect. There is no territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela. There is a border controversy which Venezuela created by claiming Guyana’s Essequibo region. The boundaries were settled fully, finally and perfectly by the 1899 Arbitral Award, and was accepted by Venezuela. They later resurrected their claim to the area based on a letter of Mallet- Prevost, a junior lawyer in the Tribunal, published posthumously-years after all the judges of the 1899 Tribunal had died. Venezuela is yet to produce any evidence to prove that the 1899 Award is null and void as they claim. There is no territorial dispute, but a border controversy. Words matter. Essequibo belongs to Guyana.