[Barbados Today] – Guyana’s President David Granger is getting strong backing from CARICOM leaders, including the current chairman, Barbados’ Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, in its border dispute with Venezuela.
Granger, who is attending his first CARICOM summit as Guyana’s head of government, revealed to reporters today that Stuart actually led Guyana’s delegation into talks yesterday with Venezuelan officials.
Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro, who has issued a decree in support of Caracas’ claim to disputed territory it shares with Georgetown, was expected to participate in the talks, but has been a no show.
However, in his absence, Granger, a former army brigadier, has been telling fellow CARICOM heads that if Venezuela succeeds with its claim, Guyana will not be the only CARICOM country that is adversely affected.
The US government will NOT tolerate seizure of the US company’s assets in international waters.
I beg to correct here Arthur. Exxon-Mobil’s exploration activities are NOT in international waters. That’s Guyana’s exclusive economic zone under international law.
Several years ago Venezuela nationalized ExxonMobil’s assets worth US$ 50B without compensation. The US government will NOT tolerate seizure of the US company’s assets in international waters.