Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 26, 2015 News
President David Granger yesterday morning departed for the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), in Malta. The forum opens on Friday and ending Sunday.
With the President set to once again deliver a strong message on the security of small states, particularly in light of the resurgence of Venezuela’s aggression, the Commonwealth Heads are set to consider and ratify a declaration in support of Guyana’s stance on the issue.
Speaking briefly, while in transit in Trinidad and Tobago, the President said, “We have always been able to enjoy the support of the Commonwealth and we will continue to work with our partners in the Commonwealth to ensure that their support continues undiminished and that we send a message to aggressor states, in this case Venezuela, that we are not alone.”
President Granger, the Ministry of the Presidency said yesterday, noted that if Venezuela believes it has a claim, that country should present the evidence of its assertion to an international forum so that the matter can be resolved.
“We feel that slowly world opinion is turning against aggressive solutions to conflicts or controversies and this is time when we have decided more positively than ever before to have a juridical settlement. We’ve just had too many decades of harassment,” he said.
Speaking on the possibility of a Commonwealth Declaration in support of Guyana, the Head of State said, “This type of declaration indicates that there is an intolerance in the world at large for settling conflicts by violent means [and] that there is a desire of countries to get ahead with their economic development, rather than expend their economic resources on military material.”
Additionally, in the lead up to the meeting, President Granger had indicated that Guyana will give its full support to Antigua and Barbuda nominee, Sir Ronald Sanders, for the post of Commonwealth Secretary-General, when leaders of the 53-member association meet at the biennial meeting.
“We regard him as a friend of the Commonwealth and Guyana. Small states expect to see the Secretary-General coming out in even greater support of small-state security, climate change in small states and the economy of trade and commerce,” he said.
First Lady, Sandra Granger, is also traveling with the President and Guyana’s delegation to the Commonwealth meeting. She will participate in the CHOGM 2015 Spouses programme. The delegation, which also includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, who is already in Malta, will return to Guyana on December 1.
Earlier this year, Venezuela ramped up its aggression against Guyana after US-owned Exxon-Mobil announced it found oil in offshore waters.
Venezuela aggressively issued decrees restating claims to Essequibo and the waters where the oil was discovered.
Guyana has vowed to sensitise the world to the Venezuela threat which has seen a halting of trade.
President David Granger said that the matter, simmering for over 50 years, should be settled in the World Court once and for all.
The matter has been taken to the United Nations which is working to find a resolution.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]