By Svetlana Marshall

International Relations Expert, Guyanese Professor, Dr Mark Kirton today called on the regional body, CARICOM, to go beyond issuing statements on Venezuela’s threats against Guyana and to convene an urgent meeting of Heads of Government to get them to pledge their unequivocal support for Guyana, ahead of the upcoming Venezuelan referendum on the Essequibo.

Dr. Kirton believes Venezuela’s referendum on Guyana’s Essequibo poses an existential threat to Guyana’s territory.

While addressing students of The Bishops’ High School at a forum on the border controversy, Dr. Kirton said that with Venezuela’s increased aggression, there must be a sustained relationship with the regional and international communities to win new friends. 

“I reiterate the call for a meeting of CARICOM Heads before the 3^rd of December with the sole item on the agenda being the existential threat to Guyana’s sovereignty and a pledge for unequivocal and unwavering support for Guyana,” Dr Kirton said.

The International Relations Expert also made a case for the activation of the Regional Security System with added support from the international community.

“I believe that there should be a consideration for an enhanced regional security system to serve as part of a broader international strategic deterrence mission, which could act as a counterweight to any potential aggression by our neighbours,” Dr Kirton said.

He told the students that they too can play a part by disseminating positive messages via social media and writing their CARICOM brothers and sisters in the region to solicit their support, while reinforcing Guyana’s position that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which defined the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela, is final and valid.

Dr Kirton spoke along side the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall; Guyana’s Agent at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Carl Greenidge, and Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.

In response to Dr. Kirton’s call on CARICOM to convene an urgent meeting on the issue, the Attorney General pointed out that CARICOM issued one of the strongest statements in support of Guyana back in September.

At the time, CARICOM reiterated its “full and unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, including its right to peacefully develop the resources of its territory.”

CARICOM has also called on Venezuela to respect the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to adjudicate over the matter – a move which will see a peaceful resolution to the border controversy.   

According to the Attorney General, the statement issued by CARICOM embodies the view of every CARICOM Member Country.

“Whether we should have another engagement dedicatedly for this purpose, is a matter that our government as a collective will have to invite the entire CARICOM to convene. It is not a decision that the Government of Guyana can make, and unilaterally imposed on a community of about 15-17 different governments,” he said.

The Attorney General said the Government remains committed to explore every single option available to safeguard Guyana and its people.

Guyana has been engaging its international partners on the rising tension and the threats from Venezuela.

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