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WILL GUYANA-VENEZUELA RELATIONS IMPROVE?

Oct 28, 2015 Editorial, Features / Columnists

Since taking office four months ago, there has not been anything much to complain about Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge in terms of how he has been conducting  Guyana’s foreign policy. If anything, he has to be commended for keeping the nation informed and at ease of Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s territory—a claim that was settled by the 1899 Tribunal. Given the hostility between Caracas and Georgetown and the deployment of troops and military equipment on Guyana’s border, Mr. Greenidge has remained calm throughout the entire ordeal. He did not panic and was not intimidated but has meticulously highlighted Guyana’s position at the UN and several other international forums.
Mr. Greenidge has not taken anything for granted and should be given credit for the way he has handled the first major external crisis this government has faced. But to his credit, he has remained focused in guiding the country through the crisis, which is one of the bright spots that has brought the nation respect from the international community well beyond the country’s size and economic might. Acclaim must also be given to President David Granger, who at the UN, reaffirmed Guyana’s firm commitment to the 1899 Tribunal Award and that Venezuela’s claim is null and void. He was resolute and forceful and called for a judicial settlement of the dispute. It was the strongest repudiation of Venezuela in recent times.
Despite several criticisms about the handling of the border dispute by the government, Guyanese should be proud of the way President Granger and Vice President Greenidge have handled the 116 year old controversy. Guyana’s army is no match to Venezuela’s, yet President Maduro removed his troops from the border without any incident. Guyana has presented its case for the UN to resolve the issue peacefully. Venezuela did not expect the issue to evolve into such a public debate but due to the diplomatic skills of Mr. Greenidge and President Granger, it did. Venezuela had underestimated Guyana’s resolve but its leaders have made a strong case for a lasting and peaceful solution to the dispute.
The stream of exchanges between Guyana and the international community has played out in front of the nation. The question is why it has taken an inordinately long time to settle the issue. However, Venezuela cannot expect to eat its cake and still have it. By refusing to accept the 1899 Tribunal Award, Venezuela should also return the more than 12,000 square miles of Guyana’s territory, (which is almost the size of the English-speaking Caribbean) it received in the 1899 Tribunal Award.
Vice President Greenidge was never tempted into a public quarrel with Venezuela because of his conviction and professionalism. He has steadfastly stated that Venezuela’s claim was baseless and that a permanent settlement to the dispute should be adjudicated by the International Court of Justice. He has exposed the legal quagmire in which President Maduro had placed himself and asserted that no international law would support Venezuela’s claims to annex Essequibo. Alluding to the 1994 United Nations Law of the Sea Convention, ratified by more than 165 countries, Mr. Greenidge said that the Convention does not grant Venezuela sovereignty over Guyana’s sea-space and by deploying troops and gunboats in Guyana’s territorial waters, Venezuela had violated the Articles of the Convention.
Even though relations between Guyana and Venezuela remain tense at the moment, Mr. Greenidge is hopeful that with time, they would improve. However, this can only be achieved if Venezuela agrees to conduct its politics in a way that does not adversely impact its relations with Guyana. What has transpired with the deployment of troops and military equipment by Venezuela on Guyana’s border is clearly not the way to maintain good relations or to resolve the conflict. A judicial adjudication will.

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