FOREIGN Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge says he is unmoved by the Venezuelan Government’s decision to delay accrediting Guyana’s appointed Ambassador to that country. Greenidge, who is currently on official duties in the United States, said Guyana will continue to be vocal against Venezuela’s illegitimate claims to the Essequibo Region and Guyana’s maritime space following the discovery of significant oil by ExxonMobil.

“I regret President Maduro’s fondness for broadcast diplomacy which Guyana will not follow. Guyana will not be silent where its rights under law continue to be denied,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said.
He added that “Guyana has a right to speak on matters affecting it.” The Foreign Affairs Minister, in a statement to the media on Thursday, noted that the illegitimate claims by Venezuela over Guyana’s maritime space and the Essequibo Region is a “legitimate matter of concern to Guyana and indeed other CARICOM States,” and as such “Venezuela must recognise that such actions, along with its pursuit of its spurious claim despite the restrictions of the Geneva Agreement, are the bases for Guyana’s response.”
President Maduro’s outbursts every time Guyana defends its territorial space Greenidge said “comes perilously close to revealing a belief that uniquely, as a nation and as a people, we have no right, either to speak or to state our views on any matter affecting our well-being.”
“On this aspect I say no more,” however, notwithstanding Guyana’s position of Venezuela’s territorial claims, the country remains open to dialogue with Venezuela on matters related to bilateral relations.
“We see the exchanging of Ambassadors as being an important part of promoting such dialogue. Notwithstanding announced actions by President Maduro in this regard, we are prepared to carry on these discussions. Whatever actions Venezuela takes in relation to Ambassadors, we remain ready to adhere to the Geneva Agreement and we rely on the Secretary General to make his decision as to the means of settlement of the controversy as defined in the Geneva Agreement,” Greenidge said.
President Nicholas Maduro ordered his Foreign Affairs Minister, Delcy Rodriguez, to stay the accreditation of Guyana’s appointed Ambassador Cheryl Miles. The Venezuelan Government has accused Greenidge of launching a verbal attack on that country and as such it will not appoint Miles at this point.
“It is nonsense to initiate the diplomatic way of regularisation, the appointment and admission of ambassadors and suddenly go to the United States to launch attacks against Venezuela,” Maduro said. His statement comes amidst ongoing tensions between the two countries.
But Greenidge is not fazed by the Venezuelan Government’s move stating that the “the path of peace is the path of law, and Guyana will continue to pursue it.” The Foreign Affairs Minister noted that in search for a solution to Venezuela’s contention of “nullity” of the 1899 Arbitral Award, Guyana relies heavily on the provisions of the Geneva Agreement.
“In fact, on August 29th last, we received in Georgetown a team from the United Nations. That team was sent by the UN Secretary General to solicit our views on the way forward and we expressed those views to the Secretary General,” he said.
Accordingly, the minister dismissed the claims by Venezuela that he launched an attack on that country. “As regards my statement in Florida, let me make it clear, Guyana has a right to speak on matters affecting it. Furthermore, I did not act on a sudden urge to visit the United States. I had a long-standing invitation to address Guyanese and interested persons in the USA on matters affecting Guyana and those of interest to the Caribbean.” The Foreign Minister’s speech in no way differed from what he has uttered publicly in defence of Guyana’s territorial sovereignty.
Venezuela’s move to halt the appointment also comes at a time when the two countries are preparing for the upcoming United Nations (UN) General Assembly Meeting next week. Over the years, the UN has played an integral role in the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute.
Ambassador Miles served under the Desmond Hoyte administration for seven years as Guyana’s Ambassador to Venezuela until she was recalled in 1993 to serve as Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She spent six years in that post and then headed the Embassy in Brazil until 1999 when she exited the Foreign Service.

By Ariana Gordon