OAS Permanent Council to discuss the growing tension between Guyana and Venezuela

The American Provinces Organization (OAS) has put increasing tensions between Guyana and Venezuela on its agenda for discussion at Permanent Council level, in the wake of Venezuela’s recent intervention into Guyana territory and the illegal detention of Guyanese citizens.

According to a brief statement from its twitter account, the OAS Permanent Council will meet today, at 10:30 hours, to discuss the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic in the region and “developments related to the Guyana Venezuela debate.”

The OAS did not specify what developments it would discuss. However, the Permanent Council meeting comes just days after two Guyanese registered fishing vessels operating off the coast of Waini Point in the Guyana Outstanding Economic Zone (EEZ) were intercepted by a Venezuelan navy Commandante Hugo Chavez GC 24 .

In fact, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Venezuelan ship sailed illegally within the EEZ and Frontier zone of Guyana when it intercepted and boarded the ships, whose captains were instructed to charter a course to Port Guiria where they were kept. According to the Ministry, the Guyana Government was not even informed of the detention of its nationals, contrary to established norms.

The crew of one of the ships, Lady Nayera, includes Captain Richard Ramnarine and his crew members Ramlakan Kamal, Nick Raghubar, Javin Boston, Michael Domingo and Joel Joseph. The other ship, the Sea Wolf, captained Captain Toney Garraway, while crew members included Errol Gardener, Orland Roberts, Christopher Shaw, Shirvin Oneil and Randy Henry. They have since been brought to court in Venezuelan and reports indicate that they will be held in custody for about 45 days pending an investigation.

The detention of the two ships also comes on the heels of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro’s recent presidential decree, which reinforced his country’s illegal claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region.

The Government of Guyana has made it clear that it is working to get the men back as soon as possible. Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd, held a virtual meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart, Jorge Arreaza on Monday. During the meeting, Arreaza had ensured that the men’s human rights were respected and that he would pursue their early release.

In addition, on Monday, Minister Todd also called in the Chargé d’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 condemned the illegal detention of the captains and crews of the Guyanese-registered fishing vessels and called for their immediate release. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that the Government is using all diplomatic channels to ensure the safe return of crew members and ships to Guyana.

Source