Venezuela accredits Dr Van West-Charles as Guyana’s Ambassador in Caracas

…2 countries affirm importance of peace, cooperation

The Venezuelan Government has accredited Dr Richard Van West-Charles as Guyana’s new Ambassador to the Spanish-speaking nation.
Dr Van West-Charles, a former Executive Member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) – the leading party in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Opposition, was selected by the Dr Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government as Guyana’s Ambassador to Venezuela in September 2023.
On Friday, Dr Van West-Charles presented his Letters of Credence to Minister for People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Yvan Gil.
During the accreditation ceremony, Minister Gil and Ambassador Van West-Charles engaged in cordial discussions. Ambassador Van West-Charles affirmed the imperative of peace and cooperation as guiding principles for the relations between Guyana and Venezuela.
In this regard, the Guyanese envoy committed to working during his tenure to pursue Guyana’s interests in exploring the potential for collaboration in areas that would provide an opportunity for the neighbouring countries to develop a programme of cooperation for the mutual benefit of both peoples.
According to the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry in Georgetown, Ambassador Van West-Charles will present his credentials to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at a later date.
Dr Van West-Charles is the son-in-law of the late Guyanese President Forbes Burnham, who was also the founding leader of the PNC. Just two years ago, he was vying for the leadership of the PNC, but lost to Aubrey Norton. Dr Van West-Charles had served as Head of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) under the former APNU/Alliance For Change (AFC) Administration.
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd had told <<< Guyana Times>>> last September that Government’s selection of Dr Van West-Charles for this position demonstrates the PPP/C Administration’s commitment to “inclusive governance”.
Guyana’s last Ambassador to Caracas was Cheryl Miles, who had been appointed as Guyana’s Head of Mission in Venezuela back in 2016, and was removed from the post in December 2019.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Guyana is Carlos Amador Perez Silva, whose letters of credence were accepted by President Ali in April 2022.
Dr Van West-Charles’ accreditation in Caracas comes on the heels of heightened tension between Guyana and Venezuela. The Spanish-speaking country continues to lay claim to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass, the Essequibo, and a portion of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in which almost 11 billion barrels of oil have been discovered over the past eight years, and in which oil production activities are ongoing.
In 2018, Guyana moved to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after the good offices process was exhausted. Guyana is seeking a final and binding ruling on the October 3, 1899 Arbitral Award to settle the longstanding border controversy.
Venezuela had challenged Guyana’s move to settle the matter, but the ICJ ruled in December 2020 that it has jurisdiction to entertain the application for a final settlement. Having rejected both of Venezuela’s preliminary objections, the ICJ has set April 8, 2024 as the time limit for the filing of a Counter-Memorial by Venezuela.
However, tensions between Guyana and Venezuela have been simmering since then and escalated recently when the Maduro Government held a referendum on December 3, 2023 with the aim of annexing Guyana’s Essequibo region.
Following the referendum, President Maduro announced a series of actions including, among other things, issuing identification cards to Guyanese living in Essequibo and issuing licences for mining and other activities there.

Given Venezuela’s threatening posture, the Caricom-CELAC-Brazil-brokered historic meeting was held on December 14, 2023 between Presidents Ali and Maduro in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and was geared towards maintaining peace in the region.
The two South American leaders came to several agreements, including that Venezuela and Guyana, directly or indirectly, would not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstance, including those consequential to any existing controversies between the two States.
Even as Guyana reaffirms its commitment to the judicial process before the World Court, it was also agreed that a Joint Commission of Foreign Ministers and Technicians of Guyana and Venezuela would be established and meet on behalf of the two Presidents in Brazil to continue dialogue on matters outside of the border controversy.
The first meeting of the Joint Commission of Foreign Ministers and Technicians was held on January 25 in Brasilia. Guyana’s delegation was led by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Todd, who described the meeting as a “good start” to creating a better future of good neighbourliness for the next generations. (G8)