By Nicole Telford- Guyana’s Parliamentary Opposition A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) said it fully supports The Government of Guyana with regards to its response to the Government of Venezuela.
A statement released by (APNU+AFC) Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Amanza Walton-Desir said ‘The APNU+AFC Parliamentary Opposition supports the position taken by the Government of Guyana in response to the latest attempt by Venezuela to undermine our sovereignty and territorial integrity. We affirm that it is the right of the Government of Guyana to pursue economic activities in any portion of its sovereign territory or any appurtenant maritime territories, for the benefit of the people of Guyana.’
The APNU+AFC statement of support came as Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali said “The Government of Guyana reserves the right to pursue economic development activities in any portion of its sovereign territory or any appurtenant maritime territories. Any unilateral attempt by Venezuela to restrict the exercise by Guyana of its sovereignty and sovereign rights will be wholly inconsistent with the Geneva Agreement and the rule of international law.”
These statements came in response to Guyana’s Government announcement that it was in receipt of bids for eight of the country’s oil blocks located offshore in Guyana’s waters, the Venezuelan Government in a statement released via social media stated that the Government of Guyana does not have sovereign rights over the maritime areas where the oil blocks are located and that any action within their limits is a violation of international law as long as they are not carried out through an agreement with Venezuela.
