Ahead of talks between Guyana and Venezuela over the disputed oil-rich Essequibo territory, Guyana’s Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, says that nation is prepared to again try diplomacy to quell the dispute.
Leaders of both countries, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali and Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, are to meet in an arrangement brokered by Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines. The meeting is to be held in St Vincent today.
Nandlall however insisted that Guyana was fixed on what to discuss and what not to discuss at the meeting and is relying on the United Nations (UN) Security Council to resolve the matter.
“The United Nations Security Council has powers to enforce orders by the court, non-military and military action. We are hoping for the best. We are fixed on what we are going to discuss and not discuss. We are going to try diplomacy again and going to do whatever (is necessary) to protect the territory,” Nandlall told a University of the West Indies (UWI) vice-chancellor’s forum on Tuesday.
The dispute over the oil-rich territory threatens to disrupt the peace and unity in the region. Caribbean countries benefitting from Venezuela’s Petrocaribe oil deal might be afraid to condemn the South American country’s actions but are guided by CARICOM to support Guyana.
Venezuela, for its part, is said to be ready to wipe off up to 100 per cent of debts of some Caribbean nations under the Petrocaribe agreement. This is seen as a move to possibly sway support from the region.
Essequibo represents 61,600 square miles or approximately two-thirds of Guyana and borders Venezuela.
In 1899 an international commission drew the boundary to the region and Guyana is arguing that this is legal and binding. Venezuela, however, is claiming a land theft conspiracy because arbitrators who decided the boundary were from the United States, Britain, and Russia.
The status of the territory is subject to the Geneva Agreement that was signed by Venezuela, British Guyana and the United Kingdom in February 1966.
This treaty specifies that the parties will agree to find a practical, peaceful, and satisfactory solution to the dispute. In the event of a stalemate, the matter is to be referred to an “appropriate international organ” and failing this, to the secretary-general of the UN.
The secretary-general has referred the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“The worst-case scenario is invasion and occupation of Guyana territory; Guyana has to prepare for the worst, that’s why diplomacy is important,” insisted Ambassador Riyad Insanally, senior fellow, Caribbean Initiative of the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Centre for Latin America, who was also a panelist.
“Diplomacy requires an element of trust on both sides; I don’t see that coming from the Venezuela side. Public pronouncements of Maduro don’t inspire confidence,” Insanally stated.
Dr Duane Edwards, senior lecturer, Department of Sociology, University of Guyana, believes Guyana should be investing more in military equipment.
“Guyana needs to spend more of the oil money on military beefing up,” Edwards suggested, though acknowledging that this would have negative implications on spending in other areas.
Professor Anthony Bryan, founder and co-director, Caribbean Policy Consortium, said that, as far as Guyana is concerned, the issue is an ICJ matter. He believes that while the meeting between the two leaders won’t resolve the issue, it presents an opportunity for both leaders to have frank discussions.
Bryan said if the ICJ rules in favour of Guyana it would have a devastating effect on the Maduro regime.