SENSING progress with the efforts of the UN to settle the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy, President David Granger arrived on the Mediterranean isle of Malta Thursday to continue his crusade to win support from world leaders. This time, he wants a solid commitment from fellow leaders attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here.

“It is at the top of our agenda,” he said, regarding his intention to secure a statement from the CHOGM 2015.
“Traditionally, at least over the last 30 years, the Commonwealth has been one of the strongest voices in the international community about the rights of small states, not only in terms of [the] environment, but also in terms of security and economic vulnerability.
“So, in fact, this is the best forum we could have hoped for to advance Guyana’s case as a small state, especially with regard to our territorial security; yes, this is a very important forum for us,” President Granger told representatives of the Guyanese State media on his arrival in Malta.
The President recognised that the 53-nation Commonwealth, headed by the Queen, and including heavyweights UK, Canada, and India, is made up of mainly small states, particularly those in the Pacific and the Caribbean.
Following recent statements and actions by Venezuela, President Granger indicated to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon, that the process of talks has worn out and that it is time for a final legal settlement to Venezuela’s claim that the arbitral award of 1899 which settled the countries’ borders is null and void.
Guyana’s position was laid out when President Granger met the UN Secretary-General in the presence of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro last September. Since then, the UN has sent two teams to Guyana to move the process further.
“We’re moving forward with that agenda; it is firmly in the control of the UN Secretary-General and I think we should await the outcome; at this point we are satisfied,” Granger said.
It was on the eve of Guyana’s independence some five decades ago that Venezuela claimed the 1899 arbitral award, which defined the two countries’ borders, was null and void.
An agreement signed in Geneva in 1966 provides for the Secretary-General to take action to bring a resolution to the contention by Venezuela.
During an address to the United Nations General Assembly in September, Mr Granger urged the UN to curb Venezuela’s expansionist agenda.
“Venezuela’s expansionist ambitions cannot be allowed to unsettle the principle of inviolability of borders, undermine the tenets of international law and unravel borders which have been undisturbed for decades,” President Granger said, addressing the United Nations General Assembly for the first time since his election in May.
Guyana has accused Venezuela of a series of acts of aggression, starting with a presidential decree of June 1968.
The border controversy flared early this year when American firm ExxonMobil announced that it had made a “significant” oil discovery.
After threatening the company, President Maduro issued a decree on May 26th this year, seeking to extend Venezuela’s land claim to also annex the country’s maritime space.
Two years ago, the Venezuelans sent a naval ship into Guyana’s waters and seized a U.S.-chartered oil survey ship and escorted it to Margarita Island.
In September, Guyanese authorities also said that the Venezuelan army was up the Cuyuni River.
More recently, late last month, Canada-based mining company Guyana Goldfields said it had received an “unfounded” notification of possible legal action by Venezuela over its operations in Guyana.
During a visit to Guyana at the start of July this year, the outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma affirmed the Commonwealth’s solidary with Guyana and support for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Mr Sharma said: “What is clear, is that Guyana is not only a country with bountiful natural resources. It is also defined by its strong human capital. Guyana is on the cusp of great advancement, and the Commonwealth stands ready and willing to support this country in advancing the culture of democracy and creating an era of prosperity for its citizens.”

By Neil Marks in Malta