Guyana’s submission to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Outer Continental Shelf to have its continental shelf extended beyond 200 miles is of great importance, since Guyana can benefit from emerging technologies that have proven useful in extracting hydrocarbons.

This is according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) on Wednesday.

Guyana is among 50 countries that have provided preliminary information to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Outer Continental Shelf which signals the intention to make submissions aimed at securing an extension beyond the 200 nautical miles.

Guyana has met the May 13 deadline for countries to provide the Commission with preliminary information that allowed them to indicate their intention to make submissions. Guyana expects to make a complete submission within a few months after conducting a series of scientific studies and technical analyses as required.

Guyana can extend jurisdiction up to 350 nautical miles.
The Foreign Ministry has been working to meet the criteria which also stipulate that consultations be done with other countries that are parties to the Law of the Sea Convention.

According to Minister Rodrigues-Birkett, countries are required to make individual submissions; but as neighbouring countries, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados are required to have consultations as they are also parties to the Convention.

Rodrigues-Birkett also stated that Guyana is working towards repealing the existing Maritime Boundaries Act of 1977 to have it replaced with the new Maritime Zones Bill legislation, which she aims to present to the National Assembly before it goes into recess.

The Foreign Minister explained that the reason why this legislation should be repealed is because it is over 30 years old, and was passed in the house before the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. She added that the convention provides for certain rights and obligations which also need to be updated.

Minister Rodrigues-Birkett referred to the issue between Guyana and Suriname involving the use of the Corentyne River, which she said has resulted in the maritime boundaries being changed, hence the need for the new legislation.

The legislation has already been drafted and is currently being reviewed. She hopes that within a short time the process will be completed so that it can be presented to the National Assembly. (GINA)