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Border controversy… Only viable path is a diplomatic one – Belizean Foreign Minister
From left: Carl Greenidge, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Guyana with his Belizean counterpart Wilfred Elrington
With some questioning the clout of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on the world stage when faced with situations like the Venezuela/Guyana border controversy, Foreign Minister of Belize, Wilfred Elrington, is encouraging everyone to recognize the need for diplomatic solidarity.
Elrington was responding to questions on the final day of the 37th Heads of Government meeting in Guyana. According to Elrington, it was very important to realize that for small countries, the only path to take was the diplomatic one.
“And this entire region has been declared a region of peace,” He said. “No wars. So that the intention is that all disputes in the area are resolved diplomatically.”
While he made it clear that it was important to get support from the international community, he added that the support of local citizens was also crucial.
“The media has a huge responsibility to make sure that every single Guyanese understands the importance of this issue,” he said. “Because this is an existential issue, one country seeking to take away another country’s (maritime zone).”
He was also adamant that CARICOM had the clout to influence international bodies such as the United Nations to take action.
“I have no doubt about that. We have had the United States President visiting CARICOM to speak to us. The European Union wants to talk to CARICOM. I think everybody is becoming more and more aware of the indispensable nature of the relationship.”
“We are inter-related and what affects me will ultimately affect you. It is only a matter of time. That realization makes it imperative for every nation, every grouping to think of peace and harmony in every region of the world.”
He made a reference to the refugee crisis, whereby Syrian and other refugees fleeing a region destabilized by war are being taken in by European countries.
The situation, however, is believed to have been a source of major dissatisfaction for the British, causing them to vote to leave the European Union in an unprecedented referendum.
“It is only a matter of time for disputes to get out of hand,” Elrington said.
“They are seeing what is happening in Africa, where people are going into Europe in droves. That, perhaps, could have been avoided if more attention was placed on them in Africa.”
“That realization is becoming more and more apparent and it is for that reason that countries of the world are looking to CARICOM leaders for leadership, to ensure that CARICOM leaders are able to provide for their people.”
President David Granger, during the closing Press Conference of the 37th Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of CARICOM at the Pegasus Hotel on Wednesday, had said, “This conference was an iteration of Caribbean solidarity.”
“CARICOM gave its support to Guyana’s demand that the matter be settled peacefully through a juridical process. The community stands united behind Guyana.
“We hope that by the time the United Nations Secretary-General demits office at the end of this year, we would have had information confirming that we are going to court to settle this long standing dispute that has affected us for the last 50 years.”
CARICOM, in reiterating its support for a juridical settlement through the office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, acknowledged in its Communiqué issued at the close of the conference that a resolution would not only serve the interests of Guyana but also CARICOM, as this is a regional issue.
The Communiqué states that CARICOM “signaled their full confidence in the Secretary-General to exercise urgently his authority under the 1966 Geneva Agreement for a choice of options that would bring the controversy to a definitive and judicious conclusion that would be beneficial not only to Guyana but the Caribbean Community as a whole.”
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