Private sector bodies tell Venezuela to “cease and desist” from dangerous path its pursuing

– slams country for jeopardizing Guyana’s sovereignty, regional peace

The incursion of a Venezuelan naval vessel in Guyana’s waters, where ExxonMobil is producing oil in the Stabroek Block, has sparked outrage from the private sector community, with a number of them demanding that Venezuela “cease and desist” from the dangerous path it is pursuing in provoking Guyana.
At approximately 07:00h on Saturday, March 1, a Venezuelan Coast Guard vessel entered Guyana’s waters and approached a tanker near the Prosperity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel producing oil in the Stabroek Block.
And in a circulated recording, purportedly a radio broadcast exchange between the Venezuelan vessel and the captain of the Liza Destiny FPSO, the Venezuelan vessel could be heard asking a number of questions including their coordinates and country of origin. While the captain answered some questions, he refused to answer other enquiries, such as how many people were on board.

In a statement after the incident, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) condemned the Venezuelan Navy for its unwarranted violation of Guyana’s territorial integrity and further expressed support for the Government of Guyana and the measures being taken to engage its bilateral partners.
“The PSC expresses its gratitude to the international community for standing firmly with Guyana and for their commitment to upholding international law and regional security. Maintaining this area as a zone of peace, as emphasized in the Argyle Agreement, remains of utmost importance to ensuring stability and economic prosperity for all.”
“We remain resolute in our advocacy for peace, stability, and the rule of law, and we urge all stakeholders to work towards a diplomatic resolution that respects Guyana’s sovereignty and international legal frameworks,” PSC also said.
Meanwhile, the European Chamber of Commerce (ECC) also strongly condemned Venezuela’s actions, which it noted are direct threats to Guyana and the region’s “peace, stability and economic progress” as a whole.
They further called on the international community to reject Venezuela’s actions, and support Guyana’s territorial integrity. The ECC noted the importance of respect of international law, pointing out that the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela was settled since the 1899 Arbitral Award.

“Venezuela’s refusal to acknowledge this legal framework and its continued attempts to disrupt regional stability must not go unanswered. The ECC stands in full solidarity with the Government of Guyana and supports any efforts taken to protect its territorial integrity.”
“We stand resolute with our fellow citizens, international partners and all stakeholders in insisting that Venezuela fully acknowledge the legal framework and refrain from all attempts to disrupt regional stability. The Essequibo region is an integral part of Guyana, and we affirm its full sovereignty over its 83,000 square miles and EEZ.”
The Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) also joined its voice to the chorus of condemnation, lauding the Government of Guyana’s ‘rapid and strategic response to this developing situation.’ Further, GOGEC stressed that Venezuela is in violation of the Argyle Agreement it signed to ensure neither Guyana or Venezuela aggravated the conflict.
“GOGEC wishes to urge the Venezuelan Government to cease and desist from this dangerous path it is pursuing and strictly adhere to and respect the aforementioned court order issued by the ICJ as well as the Argyle Agreement, pending the ICJ’s judgement, which will be legally binding on both parties, that is expected in 2026,” GOGEC said.

In addition, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) meanwhile also condemned Venezuela’s actions and expressed solidarity for the Government of Guyana’s handling of the situation and its roll out of diplomatic and legal measures.
“Guyana has experienced significant growth driven by the stability and security that our nation has upheld. This unwarranted act of aggression threatens the economic progress of our business community, jeopardizes multinational interests and the broader investor confidence.”

“We remain steadfast in our advocacy for peace, stability, and regional cooperation and urge all stakeholders to unequivocally condemn Venezuela’s reckless provocations. A diplomatic resolution must be pursued, but the onus remains on Venezuela to respect international law and uphold mutual respect,” GMSA said.
The Shipping Association of Guyana also unequivocally condemned the recent unauthorized incursion of the Venezuelan naval vessel into Guyanese waters. They pointed out that this act posed a direct threat to the security and stability of vital maritime activities, including oil and gas operations.
“This incident is a grave concern to the maritime and shipping industry, as it endangers the lawful operations of vessels within Guyana’s internationally recognized territorial. The protection of maritime routes and offshore assets is paramount for economic stability, and any hostile actions jeopardizing these must be strongly opposed.”

“We commend the Government of Guyana for its swift diplomatic engagement with international partners, including the OAS, CARICOM, and the ICJ, to ensure that this violation is addressed in accordance with international law,” the Shipping Association stated.
They went on to urge Venezuela to respect Guyana’s sovereignty and adhere to the peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms that exist, instead of resorting to intimidation tactics that threaten regional stability.
“We stand in full support of all efforts to ensure the safety of maritime operations within
Guyana’s waters and call on international maritime organizations and allied nations to remain vigilant in safeguarding the security of lawful commercial activities.”