BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Feb.05.2018- THE Federation’s political leader, Dr. Timothy Harris is supporting an amicable resolution to the ongoing border dispute between two of the Federation’s closes partners – Guyana and Venezuela.
That comment follows a decision made by United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, referring the ongoing dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Speaking with SKNVibes at his recently held media conference, PM Harris explained that the Federation’s position is similar to that of CARICOM.
“Our positions are consistent with the CARICOM agreed position. Both Guyana and Venezuela are special friends of St. Kitts and Nevis; and a special relationship of course as Guyana is part of the CARICOM family – and in that regard, is even more special.”
He reminded that the Federation has a longstanding friendship with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
“We would wish that this matter of the territorial dispute be resolved in an amicable way.”
Dr. Harris noted that they are aware that a number of options are available to both sides to take the matter to international arbitration.
However, news out of Caracas indicate that the Nicolas Muduro-led government is refusing to have the matter moved to the ICJ. Instead, SKNVibes has learnt they prefer to have the matter determined via negotiations between the two governments.
Prime Minister Harris reiterated that the federation supports any mechanism that brings a peaceful resolution to tension and dispute between Guyana and Venezuela.
He stopped short of indicating whether the government supports the ICJ making the final determination in the ongoing matter.
“We are supportive of any mechanism that would bring a peaceful resolution. The International Court is one such mechanism, and of course the independent members, that is Guyana and Venezuela, in their exercise of their own sovereign responsibility will have to make the determination – which of the international and regional mechanism they will access to bring justice.”
The two countries have been locked in a century-long border dispute, despite an agreement.
Venezuela has been laying claim to two-third of Guyana’s land mass, despite an 1899 agreement that settled the matter.
The claim was reignited following the 2015 General Elections after Exxon Mobil confirmed that they found oil in large quantities offshore the CARICOM member state.
The David Granger-led government in Guyana has supported a move to the ICJ.
