VENEZUELA has issued a missive to the local focal point for ExxonMobil, Mr. Jeff Simon, making clear that that country will not accept ‘the raid’ or any interference from any transnational company in sovereign affairs, particularly those related to the territorial dispute between Guyana and itself.

The letter, dated April 8, follows earlier exchanges between the Foreign Ministries of Guyana and Venezuela relative to the latter’s claim to the Essequibo region.

The latest bone of contention is the current Administration’s decision to give the USA-based ExxonMobil a concession to drill an exploratory well for oil in Essequibo coastal waters.

The exchanges considered, Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon, told the Guyana Chronicle that the letter is an attempt at intimidation.

“Our reaction is basically one that responds to these as more intimidation than anything else… It reflects intimidation. The Venezuelan response, the State’s response, has essentially been to attempt to intimidate the operators of the rig and get them to withdraw from their exploration in Guyanese waters,” Dr. Luncheon said.

Asked about Guyana’s response to the intimidation, Dr. Luncheon explained that a response mechanism is in place and is functioning.

“I don’t believe that each specific episode calls for a specific type of response. There is a response mechanism,” he said.

The HPS assured that, outside of this issue, indeed, Guyana and Venezuela enjoy sound bilateral relations. He said, “This is an issue, but we don’t believe it has been brought to that stage where it affects our good bilateral relationship. These are threats, and we have a mechanism to diffuse the situation that is currently being undertaken by our respective foreign affairs ministries.”

STRONGLY-WORDED
The strongly-worded letter to Mr. Simon, the Country Manager of the Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. Company, was signed by the Minister of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez.

Her letter accuses ExxonMobil of carrying out “unauthorised” operations in disputed waters off Guyana, and linked (the operations) to Washington’s recent diplomatic steps against Caracas.

“The actions of (Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd.), with its intention to carry out unauthorised operations within the maritime territory adjoining Venezuela, contradict public international law and show its intent to subvert it,” Rodriguez said.

The Venezuelan Minister added that the actions of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd must be viewed in light of President Barack Obama’s executive order in March declaring Venezuela an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States”, and handing down sanctions against seven officials.

“Venezuela reaffirms that there is no demarcation of the marine and submarine areas of the territorial space of the reclamation zone, and that the existing agreement providing for non-incursion in these spaces remains fully valid,” she said.

The standing contention of Guyana is that a deepening of ties will be affected by Venezuela’s “threats and actions against local investors wishing to operate, and those already operating” in Guyana.

STRONG CASE
The territorial integrity of the Essequibo region, historically, was pronounced on by the 1966 Geneva Agreement, signed by both countries.

The agreement took note that Venezuela was disputing the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award. While it did not take any position in relation to Venezuela’s claim to Essequibo, it committed that country, as well as Britain and Guyana, to ensure that “any outstanding controversy…should [be] amicably resolved in a manner acceptable to both parties.”

Asked about a resolution that moves from this base, the President expressed confidence that Guyana would be able to make a good case. “We feel that we have a strong case, a very good case,” he said.

Additionally, under the leadership of Venezuela’s late former president, Hugo Chavez, and Guyana’s former president, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, bilateral relations had advanced on the basis that specific mechanisms are in place to ensure that the controversy does not impact unnecessarily on fruitful bilateral relations.

Incumbent President Donald Ramotar has, on several occasions, made it clear that in addition to ensuring that bilateral relations are not affected, Guyana would ensure that its development and progress are not stymied.

“We cannot allow our country to be stymied by issues of this nature. We have to continuously work towards resolving issues that have cropped up recently, given the historical premise,” he said.

ExxonMobil started exploratory drilling at the Stabroek Block off Guyana in early March in a US$200M investment.

“Our reaction is basically one that responds to these as more intimidation than anything else… It reflects intimidation. The Venezuelan response, the State’s response, has essentially been to attempt to intimidate the operators of the rig and get them to withdraw from their exploration in Guyanese waters.” – HPS, Dr. Roger Luncheon

“The actions of (Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd.), with its intention to carry out unauthorised operations within the maritime territory adjoining Venezuela contradict public international law and show its intent to subvert it.” – Minister of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez.

“We cannot allow our country to be stymied by issues of this nature. We have to continuously work towards resolving issues that have cropped up recently, given the historical premise.”
-President Donald Ramotar

By Vanessa Narine