The UNC is calling on the Government to unequivocally support fellow CARICOM state Guyana in its border dispute with Venezuela. In a a media release, Naparima MP Rodney Charles said, “Alternatively, it must work vigorously towards a diplomatic resolution of the conflict.”
MP Charles raised this concern following a plea by Guyana to the international community for help given Venezuela’s call in an upcoming December 2023 referendum for “a new Venezuelan State consisting of Guyana’s Essequibo Region, which would be incorporated into the national territory of Venezuela, and the granting of Venezuelan citizenship to the population”.
Charles said Caricom has issued a strong statement in support of Guyana requesting Venezuela to abide by international law.
“TT has remained silent. At the very least TT must leverage our current good relations with Maduro to be an honest broker to help resolve the border dispute.”
Charles said we cannot sit idly by, do nothing and hope for the best.
“That will not be in our long term interest. Today it is Venezuela. Tomorrow it could be Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.