Guyana “not taking sides” in Venezuela’s crisis

May 30, 2017 News

– Foreign Ministry briefed by local envoy on situation

The Government of Guyana has made it clear that it is unwilling to take sides in the internal

Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge

crisis currently enveloping neighbouring Venezuela.
Last week, Venezuela’s ambassador to Guyana, Reina Díaz, appealed for Guyana’s help in lobbying for her country at various forum.
Her appeal would have come as CARICOM mulled whether to throw its support behind Venezuela or join the US and other countries for President Nicolas Maduro to step down.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement, said that any support from the Government for the people of Venezuela would not indicate automatic agreement with the Venezuelan Government’s policies and its mode of implementing those.
Rather, Guyana could provide more effective assistance if it dealt fairly with all sides.
“The Government of Guyana has no desire to compound the problems of Venezuela by joining one or other of the protagonists,” Minister Carl Greenidge is quoted as saying.
He assured that Guyana will continue to assist the people of Venezuela.
“Guyana, as a matter of routine, stands ready to assist or support all CARICOM [Caribbean Community] States and immediate neighbours, where appropriate, when asked.”
The Foreign Minister noted that, so far, the Venezuelan Government had not approached Guyana for help with its current internal crisis.
Further, the ministry said in its statement, in spite of the difficulties that the two countries had

Venezuela Ambassador to Guyana, Reina Díaz

experienced with regards to the border controversy due to Venezuela’s continuous claim to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory, the two Governments routinely utilize direct diplomatic channels to communicate through Ambassadorial exchanges or the use of Notes Verbale to send messages and requests.
“In 2016, Guyana convened a meeting of non-governmental organizations and the private sector in the country to consider the deteriorating conditions in Venezuela. However, at the time, the Venezuelan Government was not open to receiving any material assistance that was being offered at the time.”
According to the Ministry, last Thursday, in a bid to determine the seriousness of the Venezuelan request for assistance, Ambassador Diaz was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where she stated that her country could benefit from Guyana’s support at international fora.
“Foreign Minister Greenidge said he would communicate Venezuela’s request and that he was certain it would be given the level of attention it deserved by the Guyana Government. He observed that Guyana’s Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Dr. Riyad Insanally, was the current Chair of the CARICOM group. Guyana was of the view that it was both desirable and appropriate to discuss the crisis at the OAS.”

Venezuela has been rocked by protests amidst major internal fighting between the Government and the Opposition. (Reuters photo)

Greenidge, the ministry said, urged dialogue among all stakeholders in Venezuela, including the Government and Opposition.
News reports have spoken of clashes and arrests of opposition officials, in a deteriorating situation.
Also, the Foreign Minister revealed that, already, Guyana was one of the members of the Community of Caribbean and Latin American States (CELAC) that met to try to resolve Venezuela’s deteriorating situation as well as the one between its Government and Opposition. Guyana had done the same with another regional body, the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).