Venezuela Condemns Interference by CARICOM’s Barnett in Essequibo Issue
On Monday, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez condemned statements by Carla Barnett, secretary general of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), who earlier on Monday expressed support for Guyana in the territorial dispute over the Essequibo territory.
In her remarks, the CARICOM official expressed “firm support for the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Guyana” in response to the recent election of a governor for the newly incorporated 23rd state of Venezuela, Guayana Esequiba.
The incorporation of the new state responded to the overwhelming demand of Venezuelans consulted on the issue on the consultative referendum held on December 2023. The referendum was a response to Guyana’s unilateral decision to submit the dispute to the International Court of Justice, a contravention of the 1966 Geneva Agreement that ruled on the territorial dispute between the two South American nations.
“The border dispute with Venezuela remains a constant concern,” said Carla Barnett, secretary general of CARICOM, a Caribbean regional organization with 15 members, including Guyana, in a statement.
In this regard, Rodríguez said that “Venezuela rejects the insolent statements made by CARICOM Secretary General Carla Barnett, who acts as an ExxonMobil employee and does not represent the voice of all CARICOM countries.”
The Venezuelan vice president emphasized that “the territorial dispute over the Essequibo must be resolved through negotiations under the Geneva Agreement. There is no room for interference by anyone. The sun of Venezuela rises in the Essequibo,” she concluded.
(Alba Ciudad) with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SL