Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton accused the Government of acting in a “reckless” manner by agreeing to have a British Navy vessel visit Guyana weeks after the Argyle Declaration, which was intended to ease tension between Guyana and Venezuela. 

In response to the vessel’s presence in Guyana, Venezuela has dispatched more than 5000 soldiers to its coastland and bordering areas.

President Irfaan Ali, in defending the move amid objections from Venezuela, said the presence of the British Navy vessel in Guyana is no threat to Venezuela. He said the vessel is in the country for training exercises on security and other issues.

But at a press conference today, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton told reporters that the move at this time was irresponsible. 

“While it might be a part of standard training, governments are expected to be politically sensible, and should know in the context of the recently signed agreement, measures should have been taken to have it handled differently. And so, in my opinion, the government is reckless,” the Opposition Leader said. 

Mr Norton said while Guyana needs the support of the United Kingdom, Brazil and other bilateral and multilateral partners, it must act wisely. According to him, the timing was bad. 

“We could have engaged the British to say, we welcome it [but] the timing is bad. Could we work towards a later date, so that, you don’t say to the British no but you say to them, the present situation is not disposed to that kind of activity,” the Opposition Leader. 

He said while it is important for the country to build its military capability with support of its bilateral and multilateral partners, the vessel’s arrival in Guyana should have been delayed by at least a month. 

“Look, the Venezuelans have no right to tell us what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. That is a given. But at the same time, as a nation, we have the responsibility to do things to ease tension,” Mr Norton reasoned. 

However, President Ali, in addressing the issue, said Guyana remains fully steadfast in promoting and advancing peace while pursuing national development. The President also said Guyana has long been engaged in partnerships with regional and international states aimed at enhancing internal security. 

The partnerships, he said, do not threaten anyone and are in no way intended to be aggressive or constitute an offensive act against any State.

Tensions flared two months ago as Venezuela started a build-up of military personnel close to the border with Guyana, and held a referendum seeking to annex Guyana’s Essequibo.

With international condemnation mounting on Venezuela and the international community rejecting its claims, CARICOM and CELAC stepped in and brought the Presidents of the two countries together, giving birth to the Argyle Declaration. 

As part of that declaration, the two neighbours have agreed not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances, including those that are consequential to any existing controversy between the two.

Venezuela has laid claim to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory on the grounds that the 1899 Arbitral Award is null but Guyana, in rejecting that contention, has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to uphold award.  (Svetlana Marshall)

Related posts:

British Navy vessel in Guyana is no threat to Venezuela or the Argyle Declaration -says VP Jagdeo British warship to conduct joint military exercises in Guyana President and Opposition Leader hold discussion on Venezuela’s threats Opposition Leader chides British High Commissioner for statements about use of current voter’s list