RECENT statements by the governments of Guyana and Venezuela, arising from an initiative by Foreign Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett at the level of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) of the United Nations, need to be dispassionately analysed and not exploited by political provocateurs anxious to disrupt principled friendly relations between the two border neighbours.
Consistent with Guyana’s independence as a sovereign state with internationally recognised borders, and the spirit of goodwill that had characterized a recent meeting in Port-of-Spain between Foreign Minister Rodrigues-Birkett and her Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, the Guyana Government made a formal submission to the CLCS for an extended continental shelf. This is something that has also been done by some other CARICOM states in pursuit of their own sovereignty.
To the expressed surprise of the Guyana Government, as well as independent observers familiar with the procedures of this initiative for an extension of a state’s continental shelf, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry was to subsequently register an objection that became entangled with issues pertaining to the Arbitral Award of 1899 arising out of Venezuela’s original claim to approximately two thirds of this country’s territory in the Essequibo region.
Since Guyana’s application for an extension of its continental shelf is yet to be addressed by the UN’s Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, Foreign Minister Rodrigues-Birkett quickly sought to explain that the initiative to the CLCS should in no way be confused with the historical reality that Guyana’s territorial integrity remains as it was on the achievement of its political independence in 1966 and rooted in the Arbitral Award of 1899..
As elements and forces, across borders, became engaged in manoeuvres to exploit what they perceive as an opportunity to provoke domestic problems for the governments in Caracas and Georgetown, President Hugo Chavez found it necessary to sound a warning that, as reported, he “will not allow some sectors there (Guyana)  or here (Venezuela) to create internal conflicts. We will not let that happen…”
The administration of President Donald Ramotar would no doubt regard this brief intervention by President Chavez—despite his current illness—as being consistent with the principles and spirit that guide the good relations between Guyana and Venezuela.
And those who, for instance, are mischievously fanning discord over a totally unrelated news report about Venezuela sending of some 15,000 troops to its border areas with Brazil, Colombia and Guyana, should be very mindful of the attendant problems that could result from such gross irresponsibility.
As Venezuela has made quite clear, the troops are being sent to deal with drug traffickers and in cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration. Therefore, it is sheer recklessness for this development to be confused, in any quarter anywhere, with the unfortunate misunderstanding that has arisen in Caracas over Guyana’s application to the UN’s Commission for an extended continental shelf.
In the circumstances, we consider it relevant to quote here what the Guyana Foreign Ministry so clearly explained in its last week statement of March 15:.
“The Government of Guyana”, it said, “wishes to make clear that Guyana’s Submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, pursuant to Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was done in a manner fully consistent with the provisions of international law, including the Convention….
“The submission itself was made without prejudice to maritime delimitation with other States in accordance with the provisions of Article 76 (10) of the Convention. The decision of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to object to Guyana’s submission to the CLCS is, therefore, deeply regretted…”