Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer 

December 13, 2023 – Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, and Nicholas Maduro, President of Venezuela, are meeting on Thursday, December 14th, 2023, to have talks amid the developing territorial dispute.

Reports say this comes after Maduro himself talked with Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and president pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday, December 9th, 2023.

Despite Ali’s willingness to have a meeting with Maduro, he informed him that Essequibo, “Guyana’s land boundary, is not up for discussion.”

Ali in an interview with local and international media entities, emphasized that there will be no negotiations as Guyana will stay within the borders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where the dispute will be settled. 

Also, commenting on the development, Venezuela’s government expresses that this “is in order to preserve our aspiration to maintain Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace.”

In continuation, Ali posted on his Facebook a statement by Sir Shridath Ramphal on the meeting, and Ramphal starts strongly pointing out that the limit of whatever is talked about is understood or must be understood as false expectations are discouraged.

Ramphal highlighted CARICOM’s attitude to Guyana regarding the border conflict between Venezuela and Guyana. He said that for decades, CARICOM has been very vocal and consistent in its support for Guyana, which shone through brighter than ever before when a recent meeting in December was conducted where CARICOM reiterated its position on important factors. In support of Guyana.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, is reportedly invited to the meeting as an observer. He said Brazil is prepared to support and follow dialogue initiatives. Silva, according to reports, points out that this meeting is necessary to avoid unilateral measures that could escalate the situation.