President David Granger will wing out for Brazil on Thursday morning for a meeting with several South American Heads of Government where he is expected to reinforce Guyana’s position on Venezuela’s illegal claim to the Essequibo region and its oil rich maritime space.
The meeting Mercosur meeting will also see Guyana’s Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge and other officials from the Foreign Ministry in attendance.
Minister of Governance with responsibility for Guyana’s natural resources, Raphael Trotman told the local media on Wednesday that the Guyanese Leader will “not just say hello and I’m happy to meet you,” but will also seek to explain and strengthen Guyana’s position.
“He will continue introduce the new government and address pending issues of sovereignty and development. Every visit and appearance that His Excellency makes has to be to reinforce the position of territorial integrity and garner support,” Trotman told media operatives gathered at the Ministry of the Presidency.
He said the President will be providing lots of explanations on the controversy “because people believe this is just some old romantic notion that Venezuela may have but His Excellency has a golden opportunity to present Guyana’s case to his South American brothers and sisters.”
President Granger recently returned from the 36th CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in Barbados where he also raised the issue and received the support of the Caribbean Community and several individual member states.
Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro and a team from his Foreign Ministry are likely to attend the upcoming Mercosur meeting.
Mr. Granger returned to Guyana from Ethiopia this morning. While in Ethiopia, the President made reference to the continuing threats by Venezuela to Guyana’s territorial integrity while addressing a financing conference for development.
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