Granger to address Parliament on Venezuela controversy

Jul 09, 2015 News

President David Granger is set to address Parliament today on the Venezuela claims controversy, the Ministry of the Presidency announced yesterday.
The address to the National Assembly will start at 14:45hrs and likely to be broadcast live.
With deep worry over a simmering border controversy, the situation with Venezuela has been a major issue engaging the Granger administration since they were declared victors in the May 11 General and Regional Elections.
Venezuela is not only restating an old claim, but has expanded it to waters that Guyana has licensed to US-owned ExxonMobil to drill for oil. That company recently announced that it has found significant evidence of oil.
On May 26, the same day that Granger was inaugurated, Venezuela issued a decree claiming the lands and water and ordering its navy to patrol the area.
Guyana had complained to CARICOM which over the weekend called on Venezuela to withdraw the decree. Several Caribbean states, including Trinidad, have come out in support of Guyana.
The United Nations has promised to send down a team to assess the situation.
Venezuela toned down on the decree this week but there are indications now that the neighbouring country is flexing its muscles by threatening to end a rice and paddy deal which is expected to expire in November.
It means that Guyana will have to find new markets. An estimated 30 percent of Guyana’s rice exports goes to Venezuela. Last year, the deal was worth US$114M.
On Monday, Venezuela’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, announced that he was withdrawing his Ambassador and reviewing diplomatic ties.
According to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon yesterday, Granger is expected to discuss Guyana’s response to the two decrees- both in the local and international arena.