By Navendra Seoraj in Saint Vincent
PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali and Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro, will meet today at the Argyle International Airport, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Up until press time, the St. Vincent authorities were wrapping up preparations for the meeting.
It is being hosted by the country’s Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

In attendance will be a representative from Brazil, Heads of State of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); a United Nations Under-Secretary General, and members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

Dr. Ali is heading into the meeting with the firm position that the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela is not up for discussion, as the matter is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In a letter penned to the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, on Tuesday, President Ali sought to clarify the inaccuracies that Maduro has been spreading.

“In my prior letter, I indicated my understanding that the meeting is to be conducted in consonance with the framework elaborated for such a meeting in the Communique of CARICOM Heads of Government of 8th December, 2023,” Dr Ali said.
“…It is incumbent upon me to respond to certain inaccuracies in President Maduro’s letter to you of December 11, 2023.

Particularly his statement that: the ‘high-level dialogue’ to which you have invited us, is “in order to directly address the territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana…” the President wrote in the letter to Dr Gonsalves.

The Guyanese President reiterated that he, too, has a mandate from the National Assembly of Guyana, which is “unanimous in its resolve that the land boundary is not a matter for bilateral discussions and the settlement of the matter is properly in the International Court of Justice where it must remain until the court gives its final ruling on the merits of the case which, Guyana has always said, and I repeat, will be fully respected by Guyana.”

Given Guyana’s firm position and the narratives coming out of Venezuela, Caribbean diplomat Sir Shridath Ramphal has cautioned against fostering “false expectations” regarding the talks.
Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a United Nations Under-Secretary General, and members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

But first, Sir Ramphal is urging caution against fostering “false expectations” regarding the talks.
He stressed the need for a clear understanding of the limits within which the discussions will take place, emphasising that the ongoing proceedings at the ICJ regarding the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy cannot be compromised.

“Never was that support more evident; they did not falter. CARICOM Heads repeated where they stood on the most critical aspects of the current situation, namely: That they ‘firmly support Guyana in pursuance of the resolution of its border controversy with Venezuela through the process of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“That they ‘urge Venezuela to respect the conservatory measures determined by the ICJ in its recent ruling until a final resolution, and that they reiterate CARICOM’s commitment to the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, and the maintenance of international law,” Sir Shridath said in his statement.
Several countries and major international institutions and blocs continue to call on Venezuela to respect international laws and Guyana’s sovereignty.