Granger blazes gov’t on approach to Venezuela border controversy

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President David Granger. [iNews' Photo]

By Jomo Paul

Venezuela[www.inewsguyana.com] – APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate, David Granger for the first time has marked his displeasure with the manner in which the Guyana government handled recent territorial disputes with Venezuela in recent years.

Granger in the past had publicly supported the government in its defence against the infractions of the Venezuelan government both with a recent statement and when a Venezuelan naval craft expelled a Guyanese vessel from Guyanese waters.

But Granger in a recent episode of Hard Talk aired on 90.1 Love FM on Sunday March 03 said he was disappointed with the government’s response to Venezuela’s continued aggression towards Guyana.

He said that while he “supported the government of Guyana in disputes that have occurred from October 2013…when a Venezuelan naval craft expelled an unarmed civilian vessel from our water…I do not believe that the government’s response was robust enough.”

He said that the government’s stance on the issue is “weak” pointing out that other options were open to be explored by the Foreign Affairs Ministry to resolve the controversy.

Opposition Leader, David Granger. [iNews' Photo]
Opposition Leader, David Granger. [iNews’ Photo]
“The promises of a negotiation which were offered to the Foreign Minister were allowed to lapse,” said Granger.

Only recently the Commonwealth Secretariat was updated on Venezuela’s objection to ExxonMobil conducting oil based operations in the Stabroek Bloc offshore the Essequibo Coast in Guyana.

On March 25, Commonwealth in a published statement noted that the Secretariat had received an update from Guyana on recent developments concerning the challenge to petroleum exploration within what Guyana maintains to be its exclusive economic zone.

According to the Commonwealth website, the Body, “recalled the Commonwealth’s consistent and unequivocal support for the preservation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and said that Guyana’s concerns had been brought to the attention of all Commonwealth member states.”

Venezuela had raised strong objections to ExxonMobil drilling in the Stabroek Block offshore the Essequibo Coast citing that the area was currently the subject of a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. The only thing he did`nt say is what he would have done,guess he does`nt have an answer,then again he has no answer to anything just open his mouth to oppose the gov`t ,he has run out of issues to prattle about,the next thing will be to burn down the city on May 12,business people close your doors and hide,Granger is coming and this time he is bringing. Naggamootoo with him

  2. Granger you need to leave diplomatic affairs to the Government.
    Granger, Leave Building, Managing, Developing, Planning, and Business to the Progressive PPP to do, and you just stick to your false Propaganda.
    What we need from you by the way Granger, is the hundred and fifty five guns that you have given to criminals while you were leading the Army.
    Granger you have blood on your hands!

  3. Not sure I interpret Grangers comments as blazing the government. It’s a valid point he’s making however the word ‘blazing’ used in the headline of the story gives an impression that more scathing views or opinions expressed by him were said!

    Guyana has over the years been extremely sensitive to border issues, even under the PNC administration the border issues were not fixed. So it’s not just a one sided affair, both parties are to blame for not taking a firmer stance on this old issue.

    They were weak prior to 1992 and the ante was not upped post 1992! More aggressive approach must be adopted by us and with assistance from our developed friends can make this charade by Venezuela disappear!

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