– Greenidge pledges ‘meaningful functional cooperation’ with Venezuela

NOTWITHSTANDING Guyana’s border controversy with Venezuela and its ongoing case at the International Court of Justice (ICC), Guyana is still willing to cooperate with Venezuela whenever necessary, particularly as it pertains to the Spanish-speaking country’s current mass exodus due to economic hardship.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge during his budget debate remarks before the House on Friday, touched on international relations between Guyana and several countries, particularly our immediate continental neighbours, Venezuela, Suriname and Brazil.
“Notwithstanding the ICJ process, Guyana remains open to pursuing meaningful functional cooperation wherever the opportunity arises. And we have sought to do just this,” Greenidge explained.

“Venezuela remains our neighbour, so we still have to work closely with them on matters of mutual interest where possible within the framework of several regional and international arrangements, and institutions with which we share common membership.”
Greenidge recognised the current situation of the influx of Venezuelan migrants entering Guyana and noted that Guyana needs to be mindful of how the situation is handled, even in the handling of those who enter illegally.

“Let’s not forget Guyana itself has been the origin of many migrants to distant and near shores,” Greenidge reminded.

“So in fashioning our own policies and reactions to the movements of persons we have to bear that in mind. So we’ve sought to address these regular as well as irregular flows by putting in place mechanisms to avoid the undesirable feature of criminalising those migrants forced to move simply for infringement of relatively routine immigrations laws. Part of our goal here is to use means that while they protect our security and national interest and our citizens do not go overboard, that move for reasons that we can understand politically.”

Relations between Guyana and its western neighbour have always been strained by Venezuela’s continued claim to Guyana’s territory. This border controversy was aggravated in 2015 following Guyana’s discovery of oil.

Venezuela is claiming that the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award, which had given more than 90 per cent of an area to then British Guiana (now Guyana), is null and void. Approximately 118 years after that award was issued, Guyana remains resolute in its position that a juridical course of action is the only means through which this matter can be permanently resolved.

Earlier this year, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres referred the Guyana/Venezuela controversy to the ICJ.

Touching on Guyana’s relations with its other immediate neighbours, Suriname and Brazil, Greenidge said that relations have been favourable.

Guyana has been working on border relations with Suriname, while Guyana and Brazil recently celebrated 50 years of bilateral relations.

“Relations with Suriname are a warm relationship with its challenges, but challenges are not without solutions. [They] require political will. Both Suriname and Guyana have much to gain, and the political will is there,” Greenidge noted.