Caricom Heads concerned over stalemate on maritime delimitation with Venezuela

Caricom Heads of Government yesterday expressed their concern over the lack of progress in delimiting the maritime boundary between Guyana and Venezuela as agreed by their Foreign Ministers since last October.

In the communique issued following their July 1 to July 4 meeting in Antigua, Heads called upon the two sides to pursue the negotiations with greater expediency towards the conclusion of a maritime delimitation agreement. Guyana has been pressing for a meeting with Venezuela about this but Caracas is yet to agree to a date, citing excuses such as domestic unrest.

The raising of the matter at the level of Caricom Heads signals that Guyana has decided to ratchet up its effort to secure delimitation so oil search surveys and other activities can proceed.

Last month, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catolyn Rodrigues-Birkett,