BREATHING SPACE IN GUYANA-VENEZUELA BORDER DISPUTE

Michael Jarvis, UK Correspondent

For the next three months Venezuela’s sabre-rattling against its neighbour Guyana for which it claims two-thirds of Guyanese territory is expected to abate somewhat as the two sides seek to negotiate their way out of the crisis.

This follows what have been described as ‘tense talks’ held in St Vincent between the two sides resulting in an agreement to tone down the inflammatory rhetoric, especially by Venezuela.

Coming out of the talks which were initiated by the regional Caribbean Community (CARICPOM) group of nations, a joint commission will explore ways of easing the tension.

The commission comprised of Guyana and Venezuela foreign ministers along with other CARICOM representatives is expected to report back within three months - by March next year.

In the meantime, the Guyanese leader Irfaan Ali and his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, have agreed to meet in Brazil during that period to continue seeking a diplomatic solution to the long-standing border dispute.

President Ali has reiterated that “Guyana is not the aggressor, Guyana is not seeking war, but Guyana reserves the right to work with all our partners to ensure the defence of our country,” he said.

While the two sides committed to de-escalating the tension, Venezuela has still not withdrawn its claim to Guyana’s Essequobo region, the site of huge oil finds in recent times led by the American ExxonMobil corporation have the potential to propel Guyana onto the world stage as a leading oil producer. The economic prospects for the country are equally phenomenal.

Venezuela meanwhile, despite having the largest proven oil reserves in the world, has been locked in a crippling economic crisis.

The border dispute has reached as far as the United Nations and the International Court of Justice which has already ruled in Guyana’s favour over its control of the Essequibo region. But Venezuela has insisted that it does not recognise the ICJ’s jurisdiction in this matter.

The Nicolas Maduro government organised a referendum in Venezuela earlier this month in which it claimed a vast majority of those who participated supported the claim to the Guyanese territory. However, the actual turnout has still not been internationally verified and the validity of the outcome is still disputed in international circles.

Venezuela had also gone as far as amassing troops along its border with Guyana, seen as an aggressive move.

The dispute between the two neighbours dates back to the late 19th century when the British government won an arbitration court ruling giving it control of the Essequibo region in what was then British Guiana. Guyana became independent from Britain in 1966.