Opposition Member of Parliament, Roysdale Forde wants the Government to provide more answers regarding the build-up of Venezuelan military troops near Guyana’s border, and the influx of thousands of undocumented Venezuelans into the country,.

He said there is an urgent need for better management of the country’s border with Venezuela.

“Guyanese need to know what is the response of the Government of Venezuela to a letter dispatched by the Ali government enquiring about its military presence on Guyana’s land since they have no legal jurisdiction over it or is part of any legitimate partnership,” MP Forde said.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips informed the OAS this week that there continues to be a build-up of Venezuelan troops close to Guyana’s border. He also raised alarm over the Venezuelan military constructing an airstrip in a location close to the border.

The Opposition Member of Parliament also raised concern over a recent meeting between Vice President Jagdeo and some members of the Venezuelan community in Guyana.

While accusing the Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, of “making a mess of the situation,” the Opposition MP called on President Ali to take control of the management of the issues surrounding the country’s borders.

“A military presence and ratcheting support via referendum to ownership-albeit without merit- to two-thirds of our territory have created concern and understandable unease among the Guyanese people in the absence of further information from the government,” he said, while adding that the unchecked migration of Venezuelans to Guyana is also of concern. He said it is unclear under what legitimate authority and national plan such migrant inflow is being executed. 

“Unmanaged migration and accommodation of large numbers of Venezuelans in Guyana threatens Guyana’s sovereignty,” MP Forde said as he referenced to Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

But at his recent press conference, Vice President Jagdeo said the majority of Venezuelans coming to Guyana have Guyanese roots and are simply in search of a better life.

“They come here because they feel that they can have a better life. Maybe, they weren’t born here, they speak Spanish but their parents came from here. They have a connection here, and the majority of them who are here, they come from that, they cut from that cloth, they are our people, they have Guyanese blood,” the Vice President said.  

He said Guyana is closely monitoring its borders, and the Guyana v Venezuela Border Case currently before the ICJ.

“You have seen all of the statements coming out from the Government of Guyana on the border issue. We are ensuring that these statements are consistent with our case at the ICJ; that our lawyers review these statements too. We are ensuring that our statements have national support through a consultative mechanism with the opposition,” the Vice President said.

Mr Jagdeo said Guyana has not shifted from its position that the 1899 Arbitral Award, that defined the border between Guyana and Venezuela, remains valid.

“We are not moving away from the ICJ process that is supported by the global community. We have seen strong statements on the referendum coming out from the international community at the OAS, in CARICOM and a statement from the Secretary General of Commonwealth,” the Vice President said.

However, he made it clear that Guyana will not respond to every statement coming out of Venezuela but remains confident in the case before the ICJ.

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