The leaders of Guyana and Venezuela landed in St Vincent and the Grenadines for a tense meeting Thursday as regional nations sought to defuse a long-standing territorial dispute that has escalated with Venezuelans voting in a referendum to claim two-thirds of their smaller neighbour.
Pushed by regional partners, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro agreed to meet at the Argyle International Airport on the eastern Caribbean island of St Vincent. The prime ministers of Barbados, Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago said they also would attend.
Ali arrived first, with Maduro arriving shortly afterward. The Venezuelan president spoke to reporters briefly before the meeting.
“I am pleased that the community of Latin American and Caribbean states and Caricom have managed to take this step, and we will make the most of it so that our Latin America and the Caribbean remains a zone of peace,” Maduro said. Caricom is an acronym for the Caribbean Community organization.
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Ahead of the meeting, Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, said he expected additional meetings to be held.
“To use a cricket metaphor, this is not a one-day cricket match,” he said. “It is like a test match, and there will be other rounds and games, but the fact that they will be talking is very important on friendly, neutral grounds like St Vincent and the Grenadines.”
The meeting is aimed at easing the tensions that have flared over Essequibo, a vast border region rich in oil and minerals that represents much of Guyana’s territory but that Venezuela claims as its own.
Venezuela’s president followed the referendum by ordering his state-owned companies to explore and exploit the oil, gas and mines in Essequibo. And both sides have put their militaries on alert.
It was unclear if the session would lead to any agreements or even ease the border controversy.
Guyana’s president has repeatedly said the dispute needs to be resolved solely by the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands.
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“We are firm on this matter and it will not be open for discussion,” Ali wrote Tuesday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Venezuela insists the Essequibo region was part of its territory during the Spanish colonial period, and argues the 1966 Geneva Agreement between their country, Britain and Guyana, the former colony of British Guiana, nullified the border drawn in 1899 by international arbitrators.
In a letter sent Tuesday to Gonsalves, prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana’s president said the Geneva Agreement states that the International Court of Justice should settle any border controversy.
Ali also said he was concerned about what he described as “inaccurate assertions” made by Maduro’s own letter to Gonsalves.
He rebutted Maduro’s description of oil concessions granted by Guyana as being “in a maritime area yet to be delimited.” Ali said all oil blocks “are located well within Guyanese waters under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
Ali also rejected what he said Maduro described as “meddling of the United States Southern Command, which has begun operations in the disputed territory.”
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The U.S. Southern Command conducted flight operations within Guyana in recent days.
“Any allegation that a military operation aimed at Venezuela exists in any part of Guyanese territory is false, misleading and provocative,” Ali said in his letter to Gonsalves.
Maduro’s letter to Gonsalves repeats Venezuela’s contention that the border drawn in 1899 was “the result of a scheme” between the US and the UK. It also said the dispute “must be amicably resolved in a matter acceptable to both parties.”
Maduro also referred to the December 3 referendum on Venezuela claiming ownership of Essequibo, which has vast oil deposits off its coast.
The meeting between the two leaders was scheduled to last one day, although many expect the disagreement to drag on into next year. — (AP)
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“The Prime Minister’s of Barbados 🇧🇧, Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 said they also would attend …”
Bwoi, mi haffi laugh 😂, I am one of Gaston Browne’s BIGGEST critics about him ‘dancing abroad’ unnecessarily; and yet when it comes the right time to do so on this potential CONFLICT between our allied friends, Venezuela 🇻🇪 and Guyana 🇬🇾, our out-of-sorts Prime Minister stays grounded in Antigua.🇦🇬
AGAIN, I MAY BE WRONG ABOUT GASSSSSTON!
Have we got the worse PM in living memory?
I BELIEVE SO …
There are much more important things to do at home at this time. Incase you didn’t know tomorrow is Budget Day. But what do you know about budget. You could not even comment on the analysis done but the most learned Professor and Principal of the UWI FIC on the Fiscal State of the Country.
https://antiguanewsroom.com/principal-of-the-uwi-five-islands-campus-looks-at-antiguas-2024-budget/
I called you out on many times but like a chicken you stayed away. But each time you get a chance to slander the good Prime Minister you will do so. Your hatred for the man is very obvious, even for the blind.
As a businessman @ From The Sideline, you can’t tell or teach me one damn thing about finance or the economy, but I’ll let you into one of my biggest regrets around the time of being an ABLP supporter in 2014
With hindsight, I should have made a move into the political arena in Antigua & Barbuda; and without a shadow of a doubt the country would be in a much better place than it is today.
Damn, I might of even found you a position as a Minister for Pontificating & Distraction – opps, my bad, you already hold that placement 😁
As a people person, everyone would have noticed the difference – not difficult really!
But sadly, I hadn’t a clue that Gaston Browne would have been so bad over his 9-10 years of tenure.
Btw Sidey, did you remember to pray 🙏🏽 to Gassssston today?
November 25th was an eye 👁🗨 opener boss …
@Brixtonian December 14, 2023 At 4:29 pm
You claim to know so much about finance and economics, however up to now you cannot post one comment in the artical the Principal of the UWI FI wrote on the government finance. You lack basic understanding of economics that up to know you cannot come to term that everyone is presenting you facts that the Antiguan and Barbudan economy is the second fasted growing economy in the Caribbean and South America.
The learned professor has posted some stats for you from the ECCB so that you can be educated. But I guess you are not interested or you refuse to believe these stats.
https://antiguanewsroom.com/principal-of-the-uwi-five-islands-campus-looks-at-antiguas-2024-budget/
If our Prime Minister was that bad as you want us to believe why do we have such growth figures year after year, safe from Covid year, when the entire world faced a devestating economic drop because of the pandemic Covid-19.
The stats go way back to 1978 to show you things like:
Real GDP growth. And these stats are from the IMF. And look at the growth rate under the UPP. And then compare that to that under the Gaston Browne lead ABLP administration.
It makes you looks stupid when you keep saying that he cannot manage the economy.
Then look at the Debt to GDP ratio from 2003 through to 2022.
You can see how it was high only in the Covid years. And since we are growing the economy every year we are slowy but surely bringing the ratio down.
And then the stats Primary Balance and Debt Service from 2013 through 2022.
2015 and 2016 show surpluses on the Primary Balances while we can see the decrease in the Covid years. While in 2022 it was already brought down to $48.8
When you look at the Debt Service ratio we see that this Gaston Browne government has paid down far more than the UPP ever paid down on their debt. And one should remember that it was this government that paid down the IMF debt before maturity but never had the benefit of the revenues from this debt. But as I say you have no clue as to how to read these stats and I trust you have learned a little from me in this comment. And you do not have to thank me. It’s my pleasure to educate those who are ignorant and cannot help themselves.
But it shows you know NOT A THING about Finance or Economics. You may be a businessman, but so is the Vendor on Market Street. And they know finance, because they sell goods and make money. But if that was all that finance was all about, we didn’t have to go to University and spend four years to get a bachelor degree and thereafter another two years to get our Masters. Please do not insult our profession in the future.
Then if Antigua’s economy is so good, why aren’t the indigenous working population not seeing the benefits?
Furthermore, why are our indigenous business men and women not progressing and receiving the same financial help and benefits like their Caucasian – and overseas – counterparts?
In addition, you also know that for our economy to thrive, Prime Minister Browne should be giving our degree educated citizens more of an incentive to stay on here and make things better them and the country as a whole.
And in all the above I’ve mentioned, just goes to highlight Gaston Browne’s short-term mindset … live for today and forget about tomorrow.
He’s always been a “short-term” thinking person, that’s why the Barbudan’s (and also half of the voting public) don’t trust him on fiscal and financial matters.
you lost me… and please stop it!
ARE YOU SAYING THE ECONOMY IS IN SUCH A BUBBLE, THAT THE GOV. IS RAISING TAXES TO COOL IT OFF?
LOL
Who wants uneducated halfwits on the world stage? Nobody on the ALP front bench is ready for prime time. They would only embarrass us. The minimum requirements for MP and PM need to be raised.
Tanny Rose funeral was today.
Guyana runs the risk to be used and abused by the USA, in order to do the bidding of EXXON and alike. The USA is losing their influence on Saudi Arabia. And the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is really running the country, has in a diplomatic way given them the middle finger. Infact he is fostering closer ties with China and want to be part of the BRICS. America’s only hope now is to control the oil production in South America. They lost Venezuela already and want to ensure they are getting it back. Note people that it doesn’t matter how much oil a country has, if America place sanctions on that country they will not be able to sell any of that oil. Because to trade in oil you have to pay in US Dollars. The dollar is pegged to oil. That is why it is called the Oil Dollar. Lots of people think that because Guayana has found oil, which really means the US Companies have found oil in Guyana, mean Guyanese will now have a good life. Sorry to disappoint them. A small section of Guyanese will get rich and make more money, but for the majority it will be business as usual. The government will get more money and will be able to borrow more money. And they will get more Foreign Direct Investment. And hopefully they will use all these gains to better the life of the poor. But the biggest winners will be the oil companies. And therefore UNCLE SAM.
Is Gassssston flying out for peace talks like the Honourable Mia Mottley of Barbados? 🇧🇧
You’re “supposedly” in the know Sidey. Do tell ..
@Brixtonian December 14, 2023 At 4:34 pm
You really have a comprehesion problem. Just a few comments above I addressed you regarding this. Yet you come and ask the same thing again. The word that comes to mind to describe you is ‘delusional’. You are living in your own make believe world. Stay there and don’t wake up yet. I’ll wake you up in 2028. So you can go vote again.
To tell you the truth Sidey, I don’t follow all of what you write, because it’s a hard, hard time consuming read.
You don’t break down your paragraphs and sentences, you just lump everything together.
Hard, hard reading boss, I’ll try next time though … I promise 👍🏾
Obviously @Brixtonian is a high school drop-out. Businessman my arse. Lmaoo. Sounds like one of the dunce UPP charlatans!
Don’t be jealous of a successful autochthonous Antiguan @ [Non] Intelligent Antiguans 😁
HAVE A NICE DAY SUP! 🤜🏽🤛🏽
@Brixtonian December 14, 2023 At 10:25 pm
“Then if Antigua’s economy is so good, why aren’t the indigenous working population not seeing the benefits?”
Now Brix there comes a time that explaining things to you and your cronies makes absolutely no sense. All you are trying to do tiring me. Or perhaps you guys are really that stupid not to be able to understand. There is a difference between the economy and government finances. Why can’t you first of all believe all the international publications that Antigua and Barbuda is the second fasted growing economy in the region. When you have acknowledge that then perhaps you will understand that one has nothing to do with the other. Guyana is the fasted growing economy perhaps in the world at the moment. Do you think that ALL Guyanese suddenly have it good? Do you think they all suddenly have so much money in their pockets?
I have brought is as simple to you once. if I work for Microsoft and Microsoft make a large profit for the year. Does that means that all employees suddenly get millions of dollars in pay increase? No for the workers things remain the same. No change in salary. Perhaps the CEO and others get a big bonus. But it is the shareholders that will be doing well. So it is with the economy. The government put policies in place to attract Foreign Direct Investment, and the business community start flourishing and the economy start growing. Which means more output in ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. (DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT BRIX). That is called economic growth. And hopefully this will translate into more tax revenues for the government and therefore better cashflow. But if you have analyzed the stats from the Professor you would have seen where most of our revenue goes. To pay of old debt. Therefore the government always seem to have a fiscal problem when you look at the Primary Balance deficit.
I’m don explaining things to you. And you claim to be a businessman that knows finance and economics. I guess you run a sweetie shop. Good luck.
That’s because you can’t explain a thing you deflector of TRUTHS and RIGHTS. Simpleton!
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