Barbados Opposition Yearwood calls on Prime Minister Mottley to use good offices and secure commitment from Venezuela to respect ICJ’s ruling

President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Dr Ronnie Yearwood, in a statement said it is alarmed by Venezuela’s decision to ignore the interim order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that prevents Venezuela from “taking any action that would affect the status of the Essequibo.”

Yearwood states he recognises Venezuela’s plan to proceed with a referendum, asking its citizens to decide whether to annex Essequibo, is a violation of the ICJ’s interim order and is an immediate threat to peace and security in the Caribbean.

He further notes since last week the United States America (USA) has been in talks with Guyana to enhance military readiness and capabilities to respond to security threats from Venezuela and is mindful of the spillover effects a military conflict between Venezuela and Guyana would have for CARICOM countries.

The DLP leader is urging Mottley – who is widely rumoured as a top candidate to become the next Secretary General of the United Nations- to immediately end Barbados’ position of neutrality towards Venezuela. Yearwood emphasises the failure of Venezuela to respect the ICJ’s interim order must be condemned by the Barbados’ Prime Minister and requires Barbados to end neutrality towards Venezuela.

Yearwood is also calling on Mottley to use her good offices for diplomatic negotiations with Venezuela, and to secure a commitment from Venezuela to respect the interim order of the ICJ. He further calls on CARICOM leaders to establish a mechanism for diplomatic negotiations between Venezuela and Guyana aimed at preserving the status of Essequibo and preventing the threat or use of force by Venezuela against Guyana.

Yearwood expresses concern about the possibility of other foreign actors becoming involved in the Venezuela- Guyana territorial controversy if a military confrontation were to occur between Venezuela and Guyana. He is cautioning that a military confrontation between Venezuela and Guyana could open the door for a proxy war between the USA and the Russian Federation, a key ally of Venezuela.