Rowley: Venezuela must respect Guyana's sovereignty

THE Prime Minister on Thursday urged the Government of Venezuela to respect the sovereignty of Guyana, weighing in on the border dispute, at the post-Cabinet briefing held at Whitehall, Port of Spain. Dr Rowley said TT's position was based on the UN Charter.

"The same principles we used to protect Venezuela's right to self-determination about elections in the face of sanctions and threats of invasion, those same principles we use now with Venezuela in its treatment with Guyana.

"We believe that our region is a zone of peace and we are all better off living in a zone of peace, respecting international law and respecting the rights of our neighbours. We are better off and stronger together."

He said TT was proud of its foreign policy and diplomatic initiatives. Saluting the role of Dennis Francis as President of the UN general assembly as it debated the Gaza crisis, the PM remarked, "We didn't get there by being wishy-washy, and by not knowing our past and what future we were prepared to surrender."

Replying to questions about the Opposition's stance on the border dispute, he accused them of undermining TT's position and making fools of themselves.

"I can tell you, TT's position is Caricom's position." He did not know if the Opposition's statement of support for Guyana was required.

"Guyana is our neighbour, Venezuela is our neighbour, they are two friendly States.

"Guyana is part of Caricom and we have a Caricom position on the issue with Venezuela. That is where TT is."

A reporter asked if the border dispute could threaten the TT-Venezuela Dragon gas deal

The PM said, "I don't see a close connection. Conflict always has the potential to change courses of things,so we are better off if it wasn't happening.

"But I don't really see that at this stage it provides any pathway that it is requiring any overly concern.

"TT is pursuing its interests with its friendly neighbour. If that neighbour has a problem with another neighbour, that is another issue and we will have a position, but they are not unevenly yoked, 'permanante'." Rowley said it was a long-running dispute.

"We hope one day soon it can come to some amicable end. Of course elections are coming up in Venezuela and we'll hear all kinds of issues. So let's not overplay our response and our hand on it."

The PM's remarks came after a communiqué earlier from the Government of Venezuela, following tit-for-tat statements on Wednesday between Venezuela and Guyana, followed by a Caricom statement. Caricom urged border dispute be determined by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and urged Venezuela to reject any notion of force to settle the issue.

Caricom hoped a December 3 referendum on the oil-rich Essequibo would not encourage the Venezuelan Government to annex the region which constitutes two-thirds of Guyana. "Caricom earnestly hopes that Venezuela is not raising the prospect of using force or military means to get its own way in this controversy over territory."

"The court’s final decision will ensure a resolution that is peaceful, equitable and in accordance with international law."

However the Venezuelan communiqué alleged aggression by Guyana in the dispute.

The Venezuelan Government said it had taken note of Caricom's statement, but said Venezuela has "historical rights over the Essequibo."

It said at Guyana's declaration of independence, Venezuela had only recognised the territory on the right bank of the Essequibo River.

The communiques claimed that despite such territorial limits of Guyana having been well-established, the Guyana Government has intended to take possession of territory over which it has no title nor legal sources to support its claim, but rather has been "unilaterally disposing of this territory and making abusive use of it."

It claimed this practice was a violation of the Geneva Agreement – which set out a mechanism to resolve the border dispute – while making use of the area's sea even while delimitation was still pending. The Venezuelans urged the matter be solved amicably, in a matter acceptable to both parties.

The communiqué said Venezuela's position for several decades has been that the ICJ "will never reach an equitable solution". It said only the Geneva Agreement could do this. "The President of Guyana Irfaan Ali refuses to dialogue and places the US Southern Command at the head of his attack against Venezuela."

The Venezuelans advised Caricom to "promote and facilitate a direct dialogue between both parties" which would return Guyana to the path of respect for international law by promoting a peaceful and diplomatic route to address the controversy.

"Likewise, Venezuela aspires that Caricom play a construct role in the face of threats by Guyana – in coalition with the US Southern Command – to promote a military aggression against Venezuela. "Venezuela has been, is, and will continue to be a nation of peace, as it has demonstrated throughout its history."