Dear Editor,
‘The Presidents of Venezuela and Guyana, Nicholas Maduro and Irfaan Ali met in St Vincent and the Grenadines today under the chairmanship of Ralph Gonsalves the Prime Minister of SVG and the current chair of CELAC. The Prime Ministers of Barbados (Mia Mottley),Trinidad and Tobago (Keith Rowley) and St. Kitts/Nevis (Rooseveldt Skerritt), who is the current chair of CARICOM, were also present plus senior diplomats representing President Lula of Brazil and the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
The two Presidents made long and firm opening statements. President Ali said the border was not on the agenda, Essequibo and every blade of grass in it was Guyana’s and his country would leave that matter to the ICJ/World Court where it resides. President Maduro declared that he did not recognize the ICJ plus he now had a popular mandate to annex ‘Essequiba’ – as he calls it – and the sea above it including the Stabroek oil field. He had outlined for the annexation his detailed plans last week.
The two presidents then sat mute, not looking at each other, as the chair tried to persuade them to discuss the border conflict. They refused and instead talked about soccer, baseball and cricket. After an hour it was agreed that the Summit had not been a success and they all had a meal of pepperpot – a dish from both countries – shook hands and left to get into their private planes back to their respective countries. No further summits are planned’. Issued by the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines. December 14th 2023.
Sincerely,
John ‘Bill Cotton/Reform’ Mair
