[www.inewsguyana.com] – Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge has clarified that President of Guyana, David Granger is not interested in having a discussion with President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro on the border controversy affecting the two nations.
A statement from Greenidge noted that “there have been some local and regional newspaper and internet new websites headlines claiming that the President of Guyana, His Excellency Brig. David Granger has changed his mind about meeting with and holding discussions pertaining to the border controversy with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This is not the case.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister made it clear that in the body of the media reports, the language attributed to President Granger makes no mention of any “change of mind”.
“His Excellency merely said that he is willing to speak to President Maduro on a variety of issues of common interest, separate and apart from the border issue. President Granger rightly observed that there is much else of importance to be discussed, including trade and stability in the region. That position is a longstanding one and is captured in diplomatic and other correspondence between the two countries. The recent headlines, for the most part, do not accurately reflect this. In fact, the contents of many articles do not seem to be consistent with the headlines,” Greenidge noted in his statement.
He further clarified that President Granger and subsequently President Maduro approached the United Nations in June and July of this year, respectively, to call for the Secretary General to carry out the role set out in the Geneva Agreement.
“The Secretary General has indicated that he is looking into the matter and has asked whether both Presidents will be attending the United Nations General Assembly in September. That forum may offer the opportunity for a meeting. That has been reported in the press, locally and internationally, and still stands. Guyana has accepted that approach.”
If memory serves right , it was the very Foreign Minister of Guyana – The Hon. Carl Greenidge whom was not too long ago lambasting President Nicholas Maduro of Venezuela by dismissing his request to meet with President Graner and Minister Greenidge himself.
In fact, last month it will be recalled that Minister Greenidge recommended that Maduro go to CARICOM and following that remarked that the Venezuelan claim was jumbie in nature. Suddenly, Messrs. Granger & Greenidge are happy to meet with Maduro which proves that a lot of ‘grand standing’ and ‘big talk’ with nothing to back it up with is just a waste of time.
It is best to be prudent, measured and deliberate in couching one’s response in these matters versus the knee jerk reactions emanating from those charged with administrating the affairs of the republic and also in providing credible and effective leadership of the nation. The David Granger Administration must take counsel in the age old maxim that it is best to ‘speak softly and carry a big stick’ as was the credo of the former US President Theodore Roosevelt (1901 -1909).
GREENIDGE IS A TOTAL FAILURE . WHAT DO YOU LOSE BY TALKING INTELLIGENTLY ABOUT THE WAY FORWARD IN THE BORDER CONTROVERSY? YOU DON’T HAVE TO NEGOTIATE OR YIELD ANYTHING , MINISTER GREENIDGE . AT THE SAME TIME YOU DISCUSS FRIENDLY RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES INCLUDING TRADE ETC. I NOW SEE WHY GUYANA WAS BANKRUPT [ YOUR WORDS] DURING THE TIME WHEN YOU WERE MINISTER OF FINANCE. .A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE .
He is saying it again, the man (Granger) wants to talk to venezuela on stuff but not the border issue. Isn’t that not wanting to talk to them on the border issue?
Greenidge is a dumb twat!
Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, you need to get your facts together, and very CLEAR, before you make Public Statements.
Because once you have said it, you cannot withdraw those remarks, or stop the effects it may have made.