The main opposition party in Barbados, the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), today expressed great concern that the Government in Barbados has not yet expressed its full support for Guyana in the current border controversy with Venezuela.

Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Motley in a statement over the weekend said Barbados and the rest of CARICOM stand strongly behind Guyana, but the Democratic Labour Party said Prime Minister Mottley has failed to criticize Venezuela for its aggressive acts against Guyana in recent time.

Speaking at a DLP meeting in St Michael, the party leader, Dr. Ronnie Yearwood stated that “Barbados and CARICOM must stand on the right side of history in supporting Guyana’s territorial sovereignty.”

He urged Barbados to follow CARICOM in taking a clear unified position against Venezuela’s claims over a significant portion of Guyana’s territory.

Dr Yearwood noted that Venezuela’s actions not only affect Guyana but also threatens peace and security within the Caribbean region.

He condemned the approach of the Barbadian Government as hedging its bets and playing both sides, especially given the recent meetings and upcoming agreements that the administration has been seeking to conclude with Guyana and Venezuela.

The DLP leader said Barbados must not forget the long, friendly relations it shared with Guyana.

The Opposition party leader cited the cooperation between Democratic Labour Party founder and late Prime Minister of Barbados Errol Barrow and late President of Guyana Forbes Burnham in negotiating the agreement establishing CARICOM. The agreement, he said, has set the tone in large measure for the friendly relations that Guyana and Barbados have enjoyed.

He further urged CARICOM countries that are signatories to the Venezuela-Caribbean Petrocaribe oil procurement agreement to resist attempts to use the agreement as leverage to gain support for Venezuela.

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