Est.2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Banner promoting anonymous crime reporting with a phone and contact number 1 800 TIPS (8477), featuring the Crime Stoppers logo and a QR code for submitting tips.

ALI-MADURO meeting deemed premature

venezuela guyana conflict

← Back

Your message to the BLOGMASTER was sent

CONTACT THE BLOGMASTER ONLY

Submitted by The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)
Presidents Irfan Ali (l) and Nicolás Maduro (r)

The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) notes a statement from the President of Venezuela, Nicholas Maduro, that he has accepted a proposal from the President of Brazil and the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for him to engage in a high level meeting with Guyana, presumably with President Irfaan Ali. 

CGID beleives that the President of Guyana should not meet with the bellicose President of Venezuela at this time while the border matter is subjudice at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). 

Unless Venezuela fully, unconditionally and unequivocally renounces it’s baseless claim to Essequibo and abjures it bellicosity, any such meeting before the ICJ renders its judgment on the validity of the 1899 Arbitration Award, is incompatible with Guyana’s national interests and would be seen as an attempted infringement on Guyana’s right to a final and permanent juridical resolution of Venezuela’s baseless claim to Essequibo. 

Meeting with a bully to avoid him bullying you is appeasement. Guyana must never appease Venezuela. Essequibo is Guyana’s territory, Period!. This is non-negotiable.
CGID is also concerned that the Jagdeo-Ali regime is pursuing this matter unilaterally without consultation with the opposition and other national stake holders in the polity. This is dangerous!

Such an approach raises fundamental questions regarding whether President Ali is indeed pursuing this matter with the collective national interest as a primary, foremost consideration! 

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

107 responses to “ALI-MADURO meeting deemed premature”

  1. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    “…… blame the non-nationals or local authorities?” But David surely you remember expressing your support for government’s decision to relocate Rock Hall, St. Philip squatters, many of whom are non-nationals, and giving them grants, loans, house & land. Which essentially set a precedent, because non-nationals squatting in the Ivy area were demanding to be treated similarly.

  2. John Avatar
    John

    A year ago

  3. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    But before I retire from shovelling today’s waste matter, I must again deal with the nasty mess of one John Knox, who conveniently ignores the past and future plans of his Orange Jesus to use the military against his own people.

    And that the militarisation of the police, for which Orange Jesus cannot be blamed but largely the “duppy on a stick” on the other side, has effectively already waged war against CERTAIN AMERICAN PEOPLE under the guise of warring against crime.

    Everyone sees the problems with communist and socialist countries. But only fools can’t see the problems of capitalist countries.

    The fact remains though, that if you compare the two ideologies, only one has the goal of empowering the masses!

    Therefore ONLY ONE can ever be redesigned to accomplish what needs to be accomplished.

  4. John Avatar
    John

    American’s falling all over Guyana!!

    Venezuela better watch its step.

  5. John Avatar
    John

    Don’t know how crime in America came into this but here’s my suggestion for Donna.

    Discuss for 10 marks the following clip.

  6. David Avatar
    David

    @Artax

    It was not support by f illegal immigration, it was about the best way to retrieve the situation. Many of the squatters were allowed with unofficial permission from politicians to setup.

  7. Doba Avatar
    Doba

    Do you believe in Santa too? Empowering the masses is a dream. Where has that occured?

  8. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    A dream or a vision, nothing is ever accomplished without one.

    The ideology is what it is, a vision yet to be accomplished.

    Capitalism does not even have that vision. Therefore, it is CERTAIN that it will never be accomplished.

    By the way, I understand that Santa Claus is short for Saint Nicholas, a person who, I believe, did exist. Some fool added the red suit and the reindeer, along with 24 hr world trip.

    So…

  9. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    You know very well I am not referring to crime, but to the unfair criminalisation of black people as a political policy, the militarisation of the police force, deployed like an army against black Americans. It is just as political as what you speak about in Guyana and Venezuela. It is white supremacist ideology that drives it. Oppression by the State is oppression by the State.

    And I haven’t even mentioned the FBI and the civil rights movement and leaders.

    But let us not forget the first point I made! Which was that your Orange Jesus has tried to use the military against Americans before and has stated his intention to use it again. And only a fool doubts that he will do so if ever he returns to the White House.

    You cannot credibly criticise Guyana and Venezuela for doing what you would vote for in America.

    P.S.
    Spare me your silly videos! I do not watch any of them.

  10. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Seems like my first comment was lost.

    So…. I support neither Venezuela nor Guyana, based on the fact that neither Spain nor Britain had no right to the land.

    The land belongs to the natives who have always lived there. The decision should rest with them.

  11. David Avatar
    David

    @Donna

    Ideology by those executing the vision drives everything. To your point, a vision must be central to advancing the project.

  12. Doba Avatar
    Doba

    Oppression by the State is oppression by the State.
    Well said. The targeting of others is done the world over. Whether it is the indigenous people in NA, the Uyghurs in China, the Maoris in Australasia, even females in Iran are routinely jailed, like the Palestinians by the Israelis. Power seeks to remove all opposition. Some even imprison, or worse, their competitors.
    We live in a very oppressive world.

  13. David Avatar
    David

    Mia, Mia, MIa

    Mottley for peace talks

    by BARRY ALLEYNE

    barryalleyne@nationnews. com

    ENTER PRIME MINISTER Mia Amor Mottley.

    She is set to head to neighbouring CARICOM state St Vincent and the Grenadines for tomorrow’s critical meeting between the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela, as those two countries seek to find solutions to the land dispute that has drawn the attention of even the International Court of Justice.

    Tensions have been high as the two states situated in South America continue their back and forth over the Essiquibo region, an area that covers most of Guyana where 125 000 Guyanese call home, and where massive discoveries of oil and natural gas have been made in recent times.

    It will be the first time Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sit at the same table to deal with the land dispute face to face.

    The special meeting is slated for 10 a.m. and will be held in the VIP lounge of the E.T. Joshua International Airport in Arnos Vale.

    “I will be attending the talks in St Vincent and the Grenadines, between Guyana and Venezuela, facilitated by CARICOM and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). This is a border controversy, but it has the potential to significantly disrupt peace and stability not only in the two affected countries, Guyana and Venezuela, but in the Southern and Eastern Caribbean,” Mottley told the MIDWEEK NATION last night.

    “It is therefore our primary preoccupation as you would appreciate,” she added.

    Working quietly

    Also last night, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senior Minister Kerrie Symmonds noted the importance of Barbados’ involvement in the talks.

    “Barbados does intend to participate in this meeting and we attach tremendous value and priority to any opportunities to secure the maintenance of the Caribbean as a zone of peace and the respect for international law. We take this position in consonance with the clearly articulated positions of our CARICOM heads of state and government.

    “We have been working quietly with our CARICOM partners to try to de-escalate the tensions between these southern Caribbean neighbours and the prospect of a face-to-face meeting is a considerable sign of progress. The lessons of history have taught us that dialogue and respectful face-toface exchanges of views, values and ideas are the best tools for finding a path towards consensus,” he added.

    Symmonds acknowledged that no one could confidently say that the meeting would, by itself, bring about the resolution they all aspired toward, but it will “lay a foundation for deeper mutual understanding between the parties, and hopefully a mutual acceptance of the need for peaceful coexistence, the avoidance of the use of threats and force, and an ongoing respect for the conservatory measures requested by the international Court of Justice”.

    “I think that it should be self-evident that the CARICOM community stands as one and speaks with one voice on this matter. Equally, we believe that both of these great nations are of critical importance to the Caribbean civilisation and we believe that no stone should be left unturned in the effort to find a lasting peaceful and amicable solution to these challenges,” he said.

    Tomorrow’s meeting was the idea of St Vincent’s Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and will be held under the auspices of CELAC, of which St Vincent and the Grenadines holds the presidency, along with CARICOM, to be represented by its chairman Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica.

    On December 3, the International Court of Justice advised Venezuela not to take any action that would or could alter the situation on the ground in Guyana, while also noting that Guyana administers and exercises control over that area of land in dispute.

    Stood firm

    Less than a fortnight ago, Venezuela held a referendum, asking its electorate whether the region should become a state of Venezuela and its population become citizens. Maduro cast his vote and said afterwards he had the support of the Venezuelan people.

    Over the weekend, Ali stood firm about his country’s stance even before the meeting.

    “On the issues of the border controversy, Guyana’s position is nonnegotiable,” he asserted during an event in the CARICOM state.

    Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, considered the most powerful leader in South America, was also invited to mediate the meeting between Ali and Maduro, but media outlets reported yesterday that he had turned down that invitation. They indicated that da Silva encouraged the Venezuela leader to be part of the dialogue, saying it was important to avoid unilateral measures that could escalate the situation.

    Source: Nation

  14. John Avatar
    John

    Donna on December 12, 2023 at 2:20 PM said:
    Rate This

    Capitalism does not even have that vision. Therefore, it is CERTAIN that it will never be accomplished.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    You stupide woman!!

    Capitalism has been around for generations and has done and is doing well for its adherents!!

  15. Fan Belt Avatar
    Fan Belt

    Tomorrow’s meeting was the idea of St Vincent’s Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and will be held under the auspices of CELAC, of which St Vincent and the Grenadines holds the presidency, along with CARICOM, to be represented by its chairman Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica.

    Head of CLEAC …Ok
    Head of Caricom …Ok
    Head of Venezuela …Ok
    Head of Guyana …Ok
    Head of Barbados …Why? In what capacity?

  16. David Avatar
    David

    Now Mia is about to participate in the mediation of a decades running conflict, is it fair to ask if she has intervened in the Savvy on the Bay conflict like she promised?

  17. Fan Belt Avatar
    Fan Belt

    No. It is not fair.
    For all we know, the parties may have agreed to withdraw the matter from the public’s gaze. It is also possible that the Senior Minister may have asked for a little more time.

    In the fullness of time, it will be announced that the matter has been settled amicably and all relevant non-disclosure agreements signed. We will be assured that the people of Barbados have benefited significantly from the deal.

    Believe you me.

  18. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    ” Enter Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.

    She is set to head to neighbouring CARICOM state St Vincent and the Grenadines for tomorrow’s critical meeting between the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela, as those two countries seek to find solutions to the land dispute that has drawn the attention of even the International Court of Justice.”

  19. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    …is it fair to ask if she has intervened in the Savvy on the Bay conflict like she promised?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Shiite man David…!!

    That is a low blow….
    The kinda thing one would expect from stinking Bushie,
    …not Mr optimistic himself.

    LOL
    ha ha ha

  20. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    just in time.

    https://starcomnetwork.net/blog/2023/12/13/pm-mottley-promises-tax-refunds-soon/

  21. David Avatar
    David

    Don’t expect overnight border fix, says Mottley

    BARBADIANS ARE BEING TOLD to temper their expectations as Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley engages in mediation efforts between Guyana and Venezuela over the border dispute in the Essequibo.

    Speaking yesterday ahead of talks slated for today in St Vincent, Mottley said it was unrealistic to expect an overnight resolution to this long-running dispute.

    In her feature remarks during the luncheon at the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Mottley said an escalation of the dispute had the potential to destabilise the region and it was therefore imperative that Barbados did all in its power to maintain the Caribbean as a zone of peace.

    “I don’t want people to believe that this is a moment where you can wiggle your nose and solve the problem. This is a patient process, it is a process where we need to leave all egos at the side, and where we need to focus on the big picture which is peace. I have every confidence that those of goodwill in the region, as all of us are, want peace,” Mottley said.

    She made it clear that CARICOM remained unwavering in its support of Guyana and that the ultimate aim of the talks was to get both sides to agree to let the matter be decided by the International Court of Justice.

    “Let me say that CARICOM has been adamant in stating that it supports Guyana and peaceful resolution, and this is through the passage through the international court of justice.

    “However, we are sanguine enough to know that just because we say so mean it shall be so, so we have to use every sinew in our being to ensure that the region does not join the list of areas in the world that are seeing war,” she said.

    Tensions have been high as the two South American states continue their back and forth over the Essiquibo region, an area that covers most of Guyana where 125 000 Guyanese call home, and where massive discoveries of oil and natural gas have been made in recent times.

    Today’s meeting in St Vincent will be the first time Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will sit at the same table to deal with the land dispute face to face.

    Mottley said she was confident there was still hope for diplomacy, noting that CARICOM intended to capitalise on this opportunity to maintain peace.

    “State craft is a complex set of skills that has kept civilisation going for millennia and I must be confident that which each day and the capacity of language, all things are possible… The seat of CARICOM is in Guyana, the CARICOM single market and economy, basically means that everything that is regional is domestic and everything that is domestic is regional. What we are doing is dealing with a part of the family because even in the best of families, arguments and fights break out and you have to find ways, even when people are right, to lower the temperature,” she said.

    (CLM)

    Source: Nation

  22. David Avatar
    David

    A door to imperialism

    AT THE TIME of writing the situation surrounding the Venezuela-Guyana border dispute remains fluid.

    On the positive side, the Prime Ministers of St Vincent and Dominica, Ralph Gonsalves and Roosevelt Skerrit in their respective capacities as the Pro-Tempero of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and Chairman of CARICOM, have organised a face-toface meeting under the auspices of CELAC between the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela, to be held in St Vincent today.

    Such meeting between two regional leaders whose disagreement threatens to open the region to a heightened level of imperialist military interference, is a victory for principled regionalism.

    This meeting is strongly welcomed given the recent hardening of the respective internal positions of Venezuela and Guyana: a December 3 referendum has given the Maduro government a mandate to ignore any rulings from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the border dispute, while the Parliament of Guyana has instructed the President not to conduct any direct discussions with the President of Venezuela on the dispute. Equally worrying has been Guyana’s over-hasty facilitation of US militarisation of the region.

    The St Vincent meeting, if held, therefore offers the promise of a step back from this softening of our region to direct military intervention and perhaps the acquiescence to the long-term direct interference by the United States into the internal affairs of a CARICOM and Latin American state.

    Troubling evidence

    However, despite the positive hints of deescalation, there is enough troubling evidence to suggest that the actions by both Guyana and Venezuela have opened a door to more direct forms of US intervention, which may likely impact the Caribbean basin for years ahead.

    Sadly, the affirmation of the region as a sovereign, anti-imperialist space appears to be the first casualty of the dispute 2023 Essequibo dispute. Both sides are culpable: Nicolas Maduro’s insistence on its historical claims to the Essequibo at a delicate time in the development of Venezuela’s anti-systemic project; and Guyana’s Peoples’ Progressive Party’s over-hasty foreign militarisation and general obsequious dependence on US state and financial interests ever since its re-election to government, as seen in the Exxon Mobil giveaways.

    Indeed, so entangled is Guyana’s oil with US capital that the border dispute is not so much a Guyana-Venezuela dispute as it is a Venezuela-US oil interest dispute.

    What is required at this stage is not the creation of openings for further entrenchment of imperialism in the region. The possibilities exist for a Trinidad-Guyana-Venezuela cooperative arrangements for oil exploration and development, if only our leaders had the capacity to think in South-South terms.

    However, such options will always seem remote, as long as the reliance on the imperialist hegemon appears to be the first resort.

    Let us hope that the meeting today in St Vincent closes firmly the door that has been opened to US military escalation in the region.

    Tennyson Joseph is Associate Professor of Political Science at North Carolina Central University. Email tjoe2008@live.com

  23. Doba Avatar
    Doba

    Can we imagine a foreign academic living and working in Russia openly criticising Russian operations in Ukraine as imperialist and not being incarcerated?

  24. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    This is what passes for intellectual discourse. By a woe unto man, who really believes that such matters are within her pay grade.

    Poor soul!

    How can it be possible for Caricom, and by extention Caricom leaders, individually and severally, could, on the one hand, claim to be interested in peace, negotiations, when all these people and institutions were and are active participants in creating the problem as supporters of one party to the dispute.

    But this is the spectre of financial capitalism as being played out in the Palestine war theatre. Where one ardent supporter of a belligerent, America, has fooled
    the world for generations that it represents a just broker.

    That it wanted a negotiated peace deal, when in truth and in fact negotiations, agreements, and the like, were merely a colonial trick to steal all the land by their proxy.

    For them, this game is best extended for 200 years more as their oil majors steal all the oil. Just like how at home empire continues to steal all the resources of the indegenous peoples, owning them billions, even as their genocide continues at pace.

    Mottley is therefore no different than her masters in Washington.

    And we have more critiques.

    In fact, Mia Mottley was front and centre in these of efforts to create war, oblivious of the dangers. Dangers this writer for years has so warned.

    In addition, she’s currently deeply involved in other theatres of war and possible wars as a virtual beligerent.

    As far as we can determine, nobody within the hemisphere has the clean hands to settle this 200 year old dispute.

    Certainly, the International Court of Injustice, like the Caribbean Court of Injustice cannot pretend to be courts of last resort.

    For one, the ICJ must first be international and make sure the USA abides by its judgements, long outstanding. This factoid alone disqualifies the ICJ.

    Instead of now presenting as some arbiter of justice, Mia Mottley, herself, should be brought to book for her promotion of wars in the region as a comprador of the United States of America.

    But it’s not all bad news. For maybe this region will make an enter into world affairs as the place where American empire finally ends!

    Central to which, shall be the deployment of that mushroom which one writer often mentions.

  25. David Avatar
    David

    VIDEO: Dr Ralph Gonsalves

    https://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/2023/12/14/video-dr-ralph-gonsalves

    Source: NationNews

  26. Don't Invite The DEVIL Into Your Home Avatar
    Don’t Invite The DEVIL Into Your Home

    Whenever America gets a foothold in a region they never leave.
    They are like the Devil.

    Don’t Invite The DEVIL Into Your Home

    Bush 1
    Do Remember the Rumaila Oil Field in Southern Iraq 20km from the Kuwait Border where Q8 started siphoning Oil and the US Ambassador April Glaspie who promised Rude boy Saddam that USA would never get involved in an Araab-Arab conflict will promising Q8 on the sly that they would back them up if Saddam attacked them.

    Bush 2
    10 years later USA and Israel wanted to field test drone technology and allegedly made a false flag to attack on World Trade Centres and Pentagon to destroy trace of their black op covert funding from Iran Contra scandal held in 10 year bonds in Black Eagle Trust worth $280 million held in Bank of New York, and they invaded Afghanistan and Iraq.
    20 years later they left Afghanistan and UK followed and ran away too and it only took Taliban 10 days to take control back

    But USA is a bent referee in the fixed game of war massacring Palestinians in asymmetrical warfare by Israel

    Point is USA don’t care about black brown red or yellow people as they love black gold and want all the green cabbage

    Quid pro quo
    Perhaps Mia is being played while being lined up for Head of the UN

    In the movie ‘leave the world behind’ war games planned for getting people to fight each other in civil war

    In Africa GB encouraged tribes to fight so they could rob black children

  27. John Avatar
    John

    Miss Mockley does not seem to be too highly thought of by Keston K. Perry, Ph.D, an Assistant Professor in the Department of African American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.

    “In Barbados, Mottley remains popular despite the fact that her policies have shafted Black working-class Barbadians. In 2021, she led her country to become a republican state, which decided using its parliamentary majority to remove the British monarch as head of State. This decision was widely praised locally and regionally. However, a closer look at her domestic actions reveals an insidious and nefarious underbelly of a firmly committed neoliberal politician.”

    He does not seem to have twigged that there is no constitutional parliament in Barbados since 2018.

    https://www.blackagendareport.com/mirage-mia-mottleys-progressive-politics?fbclid=IwAR2fy3GRUNhspP_y-C2iuaciXnnC5kKAC__EC6OaJ6lQ3PPXnatdQkhpSjI

  28. David Avatar
    David

    https://youtu.be/uQTr59WKBQo

  29. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    It’s a fool’s errand to contemplate Ralph Gonzales, of all people, being an honest broker.

    Trusted by both sides. Even as the Americans are the puppet masters, curating these events.

    He maybe trusted by the people in Georgetown. However, this writer is not persuaded that he has the trust of the Venezuelans.

    And even if he did. We suggest that he has no power of influence, soft or hard power, over either party. Only this qualifies as the weight necessary, even if insufficient.

    The Venezuelans would know his history well. Especially that transformation, overnight, from Marxist-Lennist to neoliberal and the forces encountered just before.

    At the end of the day, this case will either be decided in Washington, Beijing or Moscow. And Gonzales would have had his moment in the sun of realpolitik.

    For no amount of talking, alone, can improse a joint resolution.

  30. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    The oil curse strikes again

    https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/dec/14/guyana-venezuela-essequibo-maduro-kenneth-mohammed

  31. BC Before Columbus Avatar
    BC Before Columbus

    “For no amount of talking, alone, can improse [sic] a joint resolution.”

    a joint resolution would be smoke the peace chalice to solve the Colonial legacy feud that has been lingering from British and Spanish rule.
    Before the curse of Christopher Columbus and the bloodsucker Vampire European Colonists there were no borders across the Americas just tribal land.

    A business merger between 2 nations would be better than a hostile takeover bid.

  32. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Tennyson Beckles could not possibly be a Bajan.

    Let’s hope that his academic pursuits, his genuinely criticality, are not derailed by neoliberalism like we’ve seen for over 50 years at the UWI under successive hegemons there.

    Hillary Beckles, his name sake, being the most distinguished sellout of them all.

    For academicians should never be businessmen. All societies need their clear thinking to avoid pitfalls, like in Guyana.

  33. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    David, seems as though both Ali and Maduro agreed, at the SVG meeting, not to ‘use force’ in their on-going dispute over the Essequibo region.

  34. David Avatar
    David

    @Artax

    Good for them if it holds.

    Leaders find common ground

    Stories by Barry Alleyne in Kingstown, St Vincent

    barryalleyne@nationnews.com

    Guyana and Venezuela last night finally found common ground in their land dispute, leading to the establishment of the Declaration Of Dialogue And Peace Of Argyle.

    Both countries agreed not to threaten or use force against each another under any circumstances.

    They are in contention over an area of around 65 000 square kilometres, approximately two-thirds of Guyana’s official total land mass, west of the Essequibo River.

    The declaration came after almost 12 hours of mediation at the Argyle International Airport, about 13.5 kilometres east of the capital Kingstown.

    In addition, Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali and President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro agreed to meet again in Brazil in three months to have further discussions on the issue.

    The truce was delivered by St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, the pro tempore president of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), hosts of the mediation.

    “A long day,” a visibly tired but still smiling Gonsalves told the Weekend Nation after reading the declaration just after 9 p.m.

    The official meeting, which took place at the Argyle International Airport, started around 10:15 a.m. with some Heads of Government in the Caribbean in attendance, including Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kerrie Symmonds and Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM David Comissiong, also flew in for the meeting.

    Also present were Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister of Bahamas Philip Davis, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Keith Rowley, and Prime Minister of Grenada Dickon Mitchell.

    At the press conference last night Gonsalves was flanked by chairman of CARICOM Roosevelt Skerrit, the Prime Minister of Dominica; Mottley and special envoy from Brazil, Celso Amorim.

    Ali and Maduro, who were both absent during the reading of the declaration, agreed that any controversies between the two states which occupy the northern part of South America will be resolved in accordance with international law, including the 1966 Geneva Agreement.

    Gonsalves added that both leaders also committed to the pursuance of good neighbourliness, peaceful co-existence, and the unity of the Caribbean and Latin American region.

    The parties recognised Guyana’s assertion that it is also committed to the process and procedures of the International Court of Justice (World Court) for the resolution of the border controversy and they agreed to continue dialogue on any pending matters of mutual importance.

    As part of the declaration, Guyana and Venezuela agreed that both countries would refrain, whether by words or deeds, from escalating any conflict or disagreement arising from any controversy between them.

    They also consented to cooperate to avoid incidents on the ground conducive to tension between them.

    However, in the event of any such incident, the countries would immediately communicate with one another, CARICOM, CELAC and the president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, to contain, reverse and prevent its recurrence.

    A joint commission is also to be established which would be made up of the foreign ministers and technocrats from the two countries to address matters as mutually agreed.

    Gonsalves was also chosen, along with the CARICOM chairman and Brazilian president, to act as interlocutors in the matter.

    Earlier in the day, there was a flurry of activity of the heavily guarded Argyle International Airport where officials were streaming in after disembarking from aircraft flying into St Vincent from their respective countries.

    There were security personnel from both Venezuela and St Vincent on the ground making sure officials were not crowded while clearing paths as they made their way to the meeting room.

    Journalists and photographers were also in place at the airport awaiting any developments and announcements coming out of the meeting

  35. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    David, ‘I feel I know one of the reasons why’ Gonsalves intervened in this Guyana/Venezuela dispute. However, although I’m happy the presidents of both countries have so far been able to amicably negotiate a settlement of their issues, it would’ve been very interesting to hear CARICOM’s response (and, more so that of CERTAIN member states), if the meeting’s results ‘had gone the other way.’

  36. David Avatar
    David

    @Artax

    One gets this impression the meeting @svg was a cherry on top scenario. We will see.

  37. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    David, although Guyana is a South American country, it is a member of CARICOM and the Caribbean region. So, despite our differences, we are supposed to be ‘one regional family.’ Remember some time during 2005, then heads of some regional territories, including SVG, signed the then Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez brokered PetroCaribe agreement, under which countries paid 60% of the value of oil shipments from VEN, with the remaining 40% payable over a period of time at low interest rates. In return, those Caribbean islands became Venezuelan allies, over which VEN exerted its influence to garner support at international fora. In other words, offering cheap oil was essentially tantamount to ‘buying political support.’ Recall, for example, votes from SVG and DOM assisted in preventing VEN’s suspension from the OAS in 2018. PetroCaribe’s cheap oil not only left benefiting regional territories with a high dependency on foreign oil imports, but long-term debt as well. In 2019, 95% of SVG’s total energy supply relied on oil imports. Also recall the same David Commisiong, who at the SVG meeting, and Hammie Lashley were trying to encourage then PM Arthur to sign the PetroCaribe agreement.

  38. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    Interstingly, David, in April 2022, Venezuela cancelled SVG’ debt accumulated under PetroCaribe. SVG received 23,000 barrels of oil from VEN in October 2022, under a resumed PetroCaribe agreement. SVG made arrangements to receive asphalt and fertilizer urea from VEN, and VEN contributed 150 houses to SVG. Don’t forget PM Browne of Antigua received financing from a Venezuelan bank to invest in LIAT. It is said, ‘blood is thicker than water.’ But, problems will obviously arise when ‘you’re hand to mouth’ and have to beg and borrow from ‘non-family members.’ I agree with Bushie’ mantra of ‘begging and borrowing,’ (but he could be a bit more diplomatic in his pronouncements… hahaha). SVG and the other CARICOM member states that benefited from PetroCaribe and are indebted to VEN as a result, are confronted by a situation where Guyana [blood] has a dispute with Venezuela [water]. We shall soon realise which fluid is actually THICKER, when or if the dispute ‘goes down to the nitty gritty.’

  39. John Avatar
    John

    When water turns into sewage it can get pretty thick, like a sludge!!

  40. David Avatar
    David

    @Artax

    We are at another crossroads?

  41. David Avatar
    David


    CGID PRESS RELEASEDecember 15, 2023Contact: Richard Millington, Esq.Director of CommunicationsEmail: caribbeaninstitute@gmail.com


    ALI- MADURO ARGYLE AGREEMENT REVERSES GUYANA’S 


    LONG STANDING FOREIGN POLICY OF NON-APPEASEMENT 


    AND UN INTERLOCUTORSHIP – CGID


    (i) The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) believes some of the concessions in the Argyle Declaration agreed to between Guyana’s President, Irfaan Ali, and Venezuela’s President, Nicholas Maduro, today December 14, 2023, in St. Vincent, with Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves as principal interlocutor, are prejudicial to Guyana and are therefore retrogressive.(ii) While Paragraph (1) enjoins Guyana and Venezuela from directly or indirectly threatening or using force against one another in any circumstances, including those consequential to any existing controversies between the two States, it must be acknowledged that it is Venezuela that is engaged in aggression and bellicosity towards Guyana, and has threatened to use force to annex Guyana’s territory, Essequibo. The failure of the agreement to also bind and constrain Venezuela to respect, and take no action to infringe on, Guyana’s territory is consequently an unfortunate and significant defect in the agreement.(iii) Although the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy is currently subjudice at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a final determination on the validity of the 1899 Parris Arbitration Award, and, notwithstanding over fifty years of direct talks with Venezuela, pursuant to the Geneva Agreement of 1966, has produced no resolution, the President of Guyana in accord with the dictates of Maduro and his Caribbean Heads of Government partners, agreed to depart from the Geneva Agreement which made the United Nations Secretary General the principal decision maker on the mechanism for engagement and a resolution of the manufactured border controversy.(iv) Instead, President Ali jointly agreed with President Maduro to appointed Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and an obvious agent of Maduro, as a new Good Officer/interlocutor, contrary to the Geneva Agreement. The United Nations Secretary has now been reduced to an observer in this new process. This is unacceptable! In accordance with the Geneva Agreement, the UN Secretary General or his designee, must always have governing powers of any mechanism to manage or resolve the controversy.(v) President Ali also agreed to set up another Joint Guyana/Venezuela Commission to discuss matters agreed to between the two countries and for the two Presidents to meet again in Brazil in three months. A similar joint Guyana/Venezuela Border Commission was established in 1966 pursuant to the Geneva Agreement. However, said commission failed because of the intransigence of Venezuela.(vi) Similarly, there were protracted high-level talks for fifty-seven years under the egis and good offices of the UN Secretary General which failed as well. Why is Ali taking Guyana back to a process that was explored over a fifty-seven year period and failed, especially since the UN Secretary General has declared these modalities have been exhausted and as a last resort, referred the matter to the ICJ for a final resolution in accordance with international law?(vii) Every mechanism stipulated in the Geneva Agreement to resolve this controversy has been exhausted between 1966 and 2015. This is precisely why the UN Secretary General referred the controversy to the ICJ for final determination. The utility of more face-to-face talks and border commissions at this juncture is therefore a preposterous exercise in futility.(viii)  Most worrying is the fact that the agreement fails to compel  Maduro to revert to status quo ante; including reversing his belligerent and bellicose actions, repudiate plans to license companies to begin mining in Essequibo and exploring for oil, and other reckless acts that violate Guyana’s sovereignty and threaten peace and security of the region.(ix) President Ali’s decision to revert this conflict to its 1966 status makes abundantly clear that Paragraphs 2 and 4 are wins for Maduro and Venezuela. Essentially, the border controversy has restarted with different mediators. Maduro last year wrote off $190 million dollars of St, Vincent and the Grenadines’ oil debt to Venezuela at the behest of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who demonstrates that he has a profitable benefit in his new role.(x)  This is a disappointing outcome to an ill-conceived process. Ali has been outmaneuvered by Maduro and his friends.


    Rickford Burke President


    Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)


    December 14, 2023

  42. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    @Rabbit
    As you are aware, I do not support heavy lifting. The A guy made good sense. I did not read the long Rickford Burke spiel.

    I still have to ask …
    What the hell just happened?
    Venezuela withdrew its claim?
    Guyanese can sleep easily?

    I

  43. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Rickford Burke continues to labour under the misperception that his political party could have taken any better actions in an attempt to avoid a looming war.

    He fails to consider the determination of Guyana to rest on the disposition of America militarism as less than misguided.

    For him, only the Venezuelans have been belligerent. For him, Venezuela, and Venezuela alone, is at fault, that resting on failed mechanisms like the UN, which is a highly influenced, financially supported, Western institution, which is more than likely to be coerced by America to side with their oil companies.

    Certainly, if war is to be avoided, and the criminal Americans be kept out of the region, it may be better to split the baby in half or subjecting both parties to making harsh concessions. Though we doubt the ability of the ‘interlocutors’ to deliver.

    Even in these circumstances to accept a mutually agreeable resolution instead of unearthing one-sided narratives which in Burke’s mind can only mean that Venezuela must accept the cost of the malfeasances of European empires.

    Not that Burke and his people are with fault. It is them who invited American oil companies, negotiated deals with them which included ‘bonuses’ to government ministers and as a result, because of their fecklessness, invited the Americans to enter the country with the intention of putting their finger on the scale against the claims of Venezuela.

    Guyana by its actions has already given 97 percent of Essequibo oil to the Americans. So on the value of oil alone, as a metrics, why can’t Venezuela benefit to avoid war in circumstances where Guyana has already given their so-called sovereignty to an empire?

  44. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Without fault

  45. John Avatar
    John

    Grasshopper

    Check my earlier comment 5 days ago. “John on December 10, 2023 at 10:14 PM”

    No war was ever going to happen!!

    Ms. Mockley and Comrade Ralph know that too but saw an opportunity to make themselves relevant.

    I stopped looking days ago.

  46. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    But TheO
    This is the same group who gave you the diplomat in NY harassing the US elected official, and the subsequent promotion to another country.

  47. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Rickford Burke’s foolishness about sovereignty needs an explanation.

    He, and those like-minded, should tell us where this sovereignty is known to exist.

    Under this or any empire known to man or mammon.

  48. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    Nothing really happened at that meeting . We are still this morning facing the fact that we do not have the collective military might to seriously challenge and or challenge Venezuela.
    This is what Mottley said at her party’s 84th Conference, as reported in the Nation Newspaper, November 22nd, 2023:
    “Mottley told attendees at her party’s 84th Conference over the weekend that Venezuela has been a “ good sister country to us and we pray that therefore persons will allow maturity to attend all of their actions and conversations.”
    So, the “ good sister country” to us , is about to decimate our brothers and sisters in Guyana.
    We can come with all the spin in the world but………
    Old people say : A duck that don’t have water to wash its own back cannot wash another duck’s back.
    Who fooling who this morning ?
    Flash back: Tom Adams at the airport , with his camera taking pictures of American bombers heading to Grenada.
    Camera, Action, Shoot……..

  49. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    After an in-depth analysis , we can only declare Ralphie as the winner of this peace conference.

    Summary
    Ralphie (1) outmanoeuvre Mia and seize the microphone, (2) earned the gratitude of Venezuela and Guyana and (3) had St vincent plastered all over the headlines.

    Details:
    (1) Do You know how hard it is to get between Mia and a microphone. A Herculean task. Mia was ready and in position, but Ralphie grabbed the microphone and showed Mia a clean pair of heels

    (2) Maduro was posturing; Ali was posturing. Both had made a mess of the situation with hostilities as the only outcome. Up step Ralphie and allow both men to save face and the possible intervention of foreign countries in their affairs.

    (3) Mia has established herself as the primary Cariibean leader. Barbados has benenfited from her work as it always get mentioned in her title (Prime ‘Minister of Barbados”. Ralphie saw an opportunity to insert St Vincent into the news for a few days and did so.

  50. John Avatar
    John

    Both countries are broke, financially and morally.

    Who fooling who with threats of war?

    Unless Uncle Sam intervenes there will be no military action, meeting or no meeting, Comrade Ralph or no Comrade Ralph, Ms. Mockley or no Ms. Mockley.

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading