FOREIGN Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett yesterday said that a sub-commission has been appointed, and the relevant parties are conducting their work, following Guyana’s application to the United Nations for an extension to the Continental Shelf in April 2012.She observed that one of the issues with the commission on the limits of the continental shelf is not clear. Minister Rodrigues-Birkett explained that there is a problem with how many days the commission will have to do their work, noting that Guyana is standing in line as the 54th country to be considered. “How do we find additional resources so they can do their work faster?” she questioned.
Guyana submitted its claim in pursuant of Article 76 of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of Sea. In 2002, like other State Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of Sea; Guyana commissioned a desk top study to ascertain whether the country met basic criteria to make claims for an extended continental shelf.
Currently, countries can have up to a limit of 150 nautical miles from the 200 nautical miles outer limit of exclusive economic zone of coastal states.
“A key objective for commissioning the desk top study was to ensure that the commissioning of other more expensive works, including seismic data gathering that could cost millions of United States dollars, would not be a costly exercise in futility,” she said.
The study which was funded with assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat, determined that Guyana met the criteria to claim an extended continental shelf, and would be formally presented to the Commission on the limits of the continental shelf during a session in April 2012. This was done.
The Foreign Minister stated that given the workload of the Commission, it would be years before the countries’ submission will be examined by the body. However, she maintained that the choice to submit a claim for extension will ensure that in future the country has the legal basis to benefit, and well as protect its rights.
Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said, too, that while Guyana will have exclusive jurisdiction over resources under the seabed, which would include any hydrocarbon or mineral deposit, the country’s submission was made without prejudice to future delimitation of maritime boundaries with neighbouring states.
Currently, the Convention and Guidelines of the Commission preclude States from using recommendations of the Commission as the basis for declaring bilateral boundaries with neighbouring States.
“Between 2008 and 2010, Guyana entered into consultations with Barbados, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago with respect to preparations of Guyana’s claims and so promoted a modus vivendi whereby all four States would make submission without prejudice to eventual delimitation and without objections from the others,” she stated.
However, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said it was necessary for Guyana to engage in such diplomacy, as the country is ‘geographically wedged’ in the centre of all three coastal States. (GINA)
