The Governors of eastern Caribbean islands have agreed to ask Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias for a meeting to clarify his country's intentions over the future of Isla de Aves.
At a summit in Anguila, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States , consisting of 9 members have condemned Venezuela's rights to the island which is situated 565 kilometers North of Venezuela.
The nine OECS Member States are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the BVI, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Venezuela claims ownership since 1865.
Dominica and Antigua lay claim to the island situated around 225 kilometers from them. The two islands reject claims that Isla de Aves or Bird island is in fact an island ... they call it a sandbar but " their" sandbar.
The problem according to some analysts is that if Venezuela lays aside its claims to the island, then both English-speaking islands would start fighting for the rights.
It is emerging that the " sandbar" could become the property of the Eastern Caribbean States Organization to offset any conflict between OECS countries.
What is at stake is the exclusive economic zone and supposed offshore oil and mineral deposits, along with fishing rights. It is not clear what Trinidad & Tobago's role is in the issue since it is the biggest country in the eastern Caribbean and is already confronting Venezuela's Petrocaribe initiative with its own cheap energy scheme.
Some analysts suggest that Trinidad is supporting Dominica and Antiguan claims on Bird Island to ensure that smaller islands to join its energy scheme and keep Venezuela out of bounds in the Caribbean.
