[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Commonwealth continues to stand behind the Government of Guyana as it relates to the border controversy with Venezuela, as it gets ready to consider and ratify a declaration in support of Guyana’s stance at its upcoming Heads of Government Meeting in Malta, from November 27 to 29.
According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, who would be attending the meeting, alongside President David Granger, the declaration is one compiled by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) comprising foreign ministers from nine member countries.
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Minister Greenidge explained that it was assembled after Guyana reached out in May of this year, to the Commonwealth.
Guyana had reported to the group that Venezuela had made a decree which purported to annex all of Guyana’s territorial sea, its exclusive economic zone and its continental shelf.
“…these are illegalities and therefore, we drew it to their attention and the Commonwealth Secretary General condemned the action, he restated the Commonwealth support for borders of Guyana which is based on a treaty that Guyana itself was a party to, and which Venezuela falsely tells the public that it is a treaty that is null and void,” Minister Greenidge said.
He noted that, “Nobody has decided that the treaty is null and void except for Venezuela, and till such time as a lawful body pronounces on it, Venezuela has no right to be making these claims.”
For its part, Greenidge noted that the Commonwealth, having been apprised of Guyana’s controversy with Venezuela, has over the years, included on its Heads of Government meeting agenda as a matter of form, the issue of the controversy.
Minister Greenidge explained that this group looked at the matter and reported on it on the margins of the UN General Assembly. He said that they then prepared a declaration that was approved and, this he said, is the declaration that is now to be presented at the Heads of Government Meeting for consideration.
In addition to the Guyana-Venezuela controversy, the Commonwealth Heads meeting also has as part of its agenda the selection of a new Secretary General, discussion on climate actions, violent extremism and radicalisation, the unprecedented challenges presented by migration, and the implementation of the UN 2015-2030 sustainable development goals, among others.
