The new United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Halloway believes that the 1899 Tribunal award which settled the border conflict between Guyana and Venezuela must be respected by all sides.

At his first press conference on Monday at the U.S Embassy, Ambassador Halloway told reporters that the United States believes that both Guyana and Venezuela should continue to respect the 1899 award.

“We call on all parties to continue to respect the 1899 arbitral award ruling  and boundary unless or until a competent legal body decides otherwise or both parties agree on something else”, Halloway pleaded.

He reminded that the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela was settled by an arbitral award in 1899 “and that’s a fact and it was duly implemented by both parties”.

The U.S Envoy said the United States was pleased with the recent United Nations facilitated talks involving President David Granger and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Mr. Halloway said both Presidents should continue to keep that communication channel open.

President Granger and President Maduro and thier Foreign Ministers meeting with UN Secretary General in New York

Asked specifically by News Source whether the U.S has been paying more attention to the latest conflict in wake of a U.S company finding itself at the centre of the conflict as it drills for oil in Guyana’s waters, Mr. Halloway said the U.S is concerned about both the issue Guyana has with Venezuela as well as the U.S oil company at the centre of the latest controversy. He said the two issues are two different issues and are being looked at that way.

“We have a policy of ensuring that for U.S companies and their rights are protected under international law” Halloway said, but he added that he does not believe the US government’s view on the current situation between Guyana and Venezuela would be any different because of the presence of a U.S company.

Halloway said he remains convinced that the best way to deal with border conflicts which exist worldwide, would be through dialogue and peace.

The new U.S Ambassador presented his credentials to President David Granger last Friday and had “very brief” discussions with the President on issues of concern to both Guyana and the U.S. He said he is currently working to set up a more substantial meeting.

Guyana has been lobbying the international community for support since Venezuela reignited a decades old border controversy that Guyana maintains was settled back in 1899.

Guyana has always enjoyed the backing of the United States on the issue.  (Gordon Moseley) 

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