VI's Premier calls on Venezuela to respect ICJ ruling on Guyana land dispute
“From a standpoint of an individual who is completely committed to peace, and I believe that we have expressed on a Caricom level that this zone, this region, must be a region of peace. I would certainly call on the Venezuelan government to respect… the ICJ ruling to respect the process through the United Nations and to not take actions which will escalate...” the Premier said in a press conference today, December 8, 2023.
Venezuela heightens aggression
Ignoring the ICJ's warning, on Sunday, December 3, 2023, in a referendum that claimed that about 10.5 million Venezuelans agree with plans for the annexation of Guyana's Essequibo region, Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro has since heightened aggression over the matter.
Maduro has since ordered a law to be drafted recognising a new state, the Guayana-Esequiba, ordered plans where the English-speaking residents of the Essequibo would be given Venezuelan national ID cards and social plans, and ordered Venezuelan oil companies to begin exploration for the mining and oil in the Essequibo region.
VI’s Premier Dr Wheatley said that given what is taking place in other regions of the world as it relates to conflict, the Caribbean region does need those types of challenges and problems.
“So I would call on our commitment to our common humanity to prevail as it pertains to territorial disputes. It's more important for us to able to cooperate as a region, to recognise the common challenges we have as a region and to unite, that would be my desire and that would be my goal,” he added.
'I stand in solidarity' with Guyana - Premier
The Premier continued, “Anything otherwise would be extremely disappointing for me and I think disappointing for others, so I stand in solidarity [with Guyana]. Obviously, Guyana is a member of Caricom and I believe Caricom as well as well as the OECS have put out statements that I have completely agreed with.”
The Organisation of American States (OAS) has since called out the Maduro regime as one that is continuing to take and promote unlawful actions against Guyana, such as conducting an illegal and illegitimate referendum on December 3, 2023, by which it seeks to annex the Essequibo region.
“This action was taken not only in flagrant disregard for international law and decisions of the ICJ but also, once more, with an undemocratic use of democratic processes,” it said.
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39 Responses to “VI's Premier calls on Venezuela to respect ICJ ruling on Guyana land dispute”
Joker
Sadly but true, our Premier can't even manage to remedy the many critical problems daily occuring on BVI, a small British Overseas Territory under his political leadership, but yet, according to him, " I stand in solidarity with Guyana." The issue between Venezuela and Guyana is a historical one over disputed land area. If you read carefully, you note that the piece of land that both claimed as their own has a Spanish name, not a indian nor a African name. That should tell us something, if we were to use our brain more than our ears and eyes.
The many problems within our reach should be our greater concern. If we are not able to fix our own problems, which we are not proving so by active solidarity with our own citizens politically and socially within our capabilities, how then can our Premier solidarity be with Guyana, yet at the same time partly disregarding our?
1. Focus on the conditions of our infrastructure! (How and where the money will come from to make these things right)
2. Clamp down on Engineers who have been getting repeated jobs and somehow the issues persist or get worst! ( create a log, get rid of them (even if they were your mammy friend) and source or try another Engineer.
3. Revamp the Education system! We have lost our way! Are teachers teaching for mastery or are they teaching to test! (Make it make sense!)
4. Increments, why are you making decisions that will cause civil servants to lose their increments, before the whole jumping of two or three pay grades? Do the civil servants know how much the increase is per grade… please share the information so everyone can see the ludicrous! and therefore people can make a more informed decision about their future!
5. Paying into a pension, a teacher’s salary is 33,000 a year with a Bachelors! Which the Ministry picks and selects who they are willing to pay… which means a lot of teachers aren’t even being paid for their qualifications and years of experience!
How Sir are they going to pay into a pension starting 2024? We could barely pay rent which is 1,000 - 1,500 one bedroom and upwards for a two!
Let’s do some Math: 33,000 divided by twelve is 2,750, busted down into bi-weekly is 1,375!
RENT
Groceries
Gas (domestic & vehicular)
Electricity
Water
Family/ children
Add the extensions: loans etc…
6. Cost of living! Bank loans, fees rates and so much more! Why aren’t you taking the time to make meaningful decisions on these major situations to propel the territory forward?
7. The lack of money circulating through the territory… more people are living in poverty! While you and your team are busy living your best life!
Please stay Focused! There are so many other issues to highlight… we got to do better!
This is why I can’t stand politicians!
Oh and of course we recognize that he has a Guyanese wife so there is ulterior motives in his making a statement.