Guyana pleased with UN efforts to resolve border controversy – Granger

 From left: Sir Shridath Ramphal, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, President David Granger and Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow
From left: Sir Shridath Ramphal, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, President David Granger and Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow

President David Granger said that he is satisfied with the efforts of United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, in trying to resolve the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy.

He said that while the Government had hoped that the process of ending the 50-year-long controversy would have been further advanced, it is not due to lack of effort by the Secretary-General’s Office, but rather the slothful pace at which the Venezuelan Government is moving.

The President made these remarks on Monday at a press briefing held on the margins of the 71st Regular Session of the UN General Assembly, currently underway in New York. He was joined by Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow and Sir Shridath Ramphal, a former Commonwealth Secretary-General who has been assisting with legal and other issues relating to the controversy.

“I am satisfied with what the Secretary-General has done; I am not satisfied that the Bolivarian Republic has acted in good faith. It is clear that much more needs to be done by Venezuela if this matter is to be resolved… In my experience over the last 50 years I have not seen a Secretary-General so engaged in this matter, he has done everything possible over the last year since first meeting in Bridgetown. I am convinced of his sincerity in trying to bring this matter to closure,” the President declared.

He explained that since the signing of the Geneva Agreement in February 1966, Guyana has abided by all of its provisions. This agreement has given the Secretary-General specific responsibilities in the absence of Guyana and Venezuela reaching a mutually accepted position.

The Head of State further outlined that the Secretary-General is required to choose a course for the peaceful resolution of the controversy. At this point however, all other courses of action have been exhausted, including the Good Officer’s process, which is why Guyana has recommended that the Secretary-General refer the matter for juridical settlement, which is the only remaining option.

“We waited for 50 years and Guyana’s approach now is to ask the Secretary-General to take the matter forward for a juridical settlement so that we don’t have to wait for 50 more years for a settlement… I am very hopeful that this Secretary-General, given his engagement over the last year or more, is going to do something which is going to lead to a favourable outcome,” he said.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Minister Greenidge who affirmed that Guyana is not prepared to accept anything other than a move to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to bring a permanent resolution to this matter.

He recognised however, that though a clear pronunciation on the course of action to be taken may not come out of this meeting, Guyana fully acknowledges the work of the Secretary-General’s Office in working with both parties to take steps to resolve the matter.

Additionally, Minister Greenidge disclosed that Guyana will join other Caricom territories to hold talks with countries like the United States and Japan on issues such as regional security and corresponding banking.