Guyana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, is expected to meet with his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza to discuss the status of Guyanese registered fishing vessels – Lady Nayera and Sea Wolf and the crew were detained by the Venezuelan Coast Guard.
Todd and Arreaza, who are serving as Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs for Foreign Affairs, are slated to meet at 16:00 h (4 pm).
The fishing vessels and crew were detained by Venezuelan navy ship Commandante Hugo Chavez GC 24 last Thursday. The ships at the time were operating off the coast of Waini Point, well within Guyana territory.
Crew members and ships are currently illegally detained in Port Guiria, Venezuela.
This morning, Todd called in the Chargé d’A Affaires Embassy of the Republic of Venezuela, Moses Chavez to hand over a protest note from the Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Venezuela Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The protest note firmly condemns the detention of the captains and crews of registered Guyanese fishing vessels, Lady Nayera and the Sea Wolf and calls for their immediate release.
“The act coming out of Caracas is insignificant,” Todd said in the note.
He further added that on both latitude and longitude, both ships were well within Guyana territory. ”
The Foreign Minister highlighted the regional peace zone and called on Venezuela to act in a manner consistent with the rule of international law. He reiterated Guyana’s commitment to the International Court of Justice as a means to end the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute.
On Thursday, January 21, 2021, the two ships were intercepted by Venezuelan naval ship Commandote Hugo Chavez GC 24, while operating off the coast of Waini Point at a position of N 80 49 ’06 ”/ w 590 37 ’40” W.
The Government of Guyana uses all diplomatic channels to ensure the safe return of crew and ships to Guyana.
Today’s meeting will focus specifically on the welfare and relief of crew, their custody, and shipping.