The opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has called on the Saint Lucia government to state its position on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy clearly.
The opposition call came Wednesday amid rising tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
Venezuela claims Guyana’s resource-rich Essequibo region, comprising more than two-thirds of its neighbour’s territory.
Guyana’s President, Dr. Iraan Ali, has announced that his country’s army is on full alert.
The announcement was in response to remarks by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.
On Tuesday, the Venezuela leader said he would authorise oil exploration in the disputed Essequibo region.Â
Maduro also said he had proposed a law to the government-controlled legislature to create a new state.
He spoke after Venezuelans voted by a wide margin on Sunday to approve the takeover of the disputed territory.
Saint Lucia’s opposition UWP referred to the situation as a ‘deeply concerning turn of events’.
A statement from the party’s Public Relations Officer, Lenard ‘Spider’ Montoute, said Venezuela’s threats of invasion had raised security alarms in the Caribbean.
The statement described the Caribbean as a well-established zone of peace and political stability.
“The blatant violation of Guyana’s territorial integrity is a direct affront to the principles of international law and poses a serious threat to stability in the region,” the UWP statement noted.
The release said the UWP was concerned about the security risk and what escalating the situation would pose for the region and Saint Lucia.
Saint Lucia is home to a significant Guyanese population, many of whom are descendants of Saint Lucians who took up residence in Guyana years ago.
The UWP urged the Saint Lucia government to state its position on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy and provide clarity and comfort to the people of Saint Lucia and the many individuals from Guyana who reside here or are now citizens.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has, in the past, emphasised the need for a peaceful dispute resolution.
Pierre officially visited Venezuela in October this year to strengthen longstanding diplomatic ties.
He has said that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), of which Saint Lucia and Guyana are members, reflects Saint Lucia’s position on the border dispute.
In its latest statement on the issue last week, CARICOMÂ insisted that Venezuela comply with international law in all respects and the Charter of the United Nations.
CARICOM also called on Venezuela to take no actions in violation of them.
Uwp looking for relevance through controversies. We are not in any dispute with anyone, neither are we looking for enemies. We have friendly relations with both countries and our position in any foreign disputes is to encourage diplomatic settlements. Absolutely no war .
Philip Pierre and the SLP are just hoping this problen goes away.
The Labour party is desperately depending on Venezuela to provide them with money to fight the elections due in 2026, so they can ‘protect their victory’ and protect them from the St Lucian voters who are suffering under pierre hillaire fredericks king hippolyte incompetence.
The only responce you can expect from phillip is he will punt the issue over to the corrupt UN so that he does not offend Venezuela.
Read their responce carefully. They will not defend Guyana or castigate Venezuela so as to protect the party’s election money.
They are very worried.
The voters see what jokers they are, tourism not working as well as before, inflation killing we, no jobs, only contracts for family and friends and now no election money from Venezuela.
The SLP getting desperate, so watch out St Lucia.
If you see two fish fighting in water, you can be sure an Englishman passed by five minutes ago.
If you see two neighbouring countries fighting about oil, you can be sure the Americans are involved.
In its latest statement on the issue last week, CARICOM insisted that Venezuela comply with international law in all respects and the Charter of the United Nations.
CARICOM also called on Venezuela to take no actions in violation of them.
He (PM Pierre) has said that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), of which Saint Lucia and Guyana are members, reflects Saint Lucia’s position on the border dispute.
THANK YOU SLT FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTION RIGHT HERE IN YOUR ARTICLE.
GREAT JOURNALISM
Daily, the political duopoly (UWP/SLP) in St. Lucia is revealing itself to be all mouth & no action: They talk about events of which they know nothing & over which they have absolutely no control; all this because they are complete failures at acting on the issues that matter most for St. Lucians!
Ali of Guyana is an utter fool! He should realize that if you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas!
The US played on his greed to get him to be their proxy in a war against Venezuela, because they are cowardly chicken-hawks. He will reap the same rewards as Zelensky of Ukraine; degrees of magnitude less in personal bribes, but a complete slaughter of Guyanese males, and complete ruination for Guyana!
These Anti Boliva/ALBA Clowns always demanding something. Both countries are supposed to be our friends, but our relationship took a sour turn with Venezuela under the leadershit of Allan Chastanet. I guess for some Guyanese are our newly found friends now that they have oil their presence in St Lucia is null and void no more calls to deport them my my my. Don’t worry those who bash Haitians when it’s revealed what’s really down below they will be welcome too but I doubt it they would want to come to pauperville
The government of the St. Lucia Labour party firmly support our comrades in Venezuela. Our prime minister, Philip Pierre, was welcomed warmly by President Maduro when he visited Venezuel on Oct 6, 2023. We have told the Venezuelans that nobody can disrupt the strong bond we have. The Guyanese need to go suck salt and hand back Essequibo. Philip Pierre should let the world know this in uncertain terms. We stand in solidarity with Venezuela. St. Lucia does not need the approval of the Americans or English. Let them take our visas, we don’t care. We have Cuba and Russia who will welcome us with open arms.
The St. Lucia Labour party government firmly support our comrades in Venezuela. Our prime minister, Philip Pierre, was welcomed warmly by President Maduro when he visited Venezuel on Oct 6, 2023. We have told the Venezuelans that nobody can disrupt the strong bond we have. The Guyanese need to go suck salt and hand back Essequibo. Philip Pierre should let the world know this in uncertain terms. We stand in solidarity with Venezuela. St. Lucia does not need the approval of the Americans or English. Let them take our visas, we don’t care. We have Cuba and Russia who will welcome us with open arms.