Presidents Dr. Irfaan Ali of Guyana and Nicholas Maduro of Venezuela exchanged gifts at the VIII Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
“Peace and love,” media reports quoted Maduro saying during the exchange.
The two men also shook hands while Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, whose country hosted the Summit, led applause.
Ali gave Maduro a bottle of rum and a medal while Maduro presented a box of Venezuelan products in return.
The gift exchange occurred amid an unresolved controversy over Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s resource-rich Essequibo region.
The region comprises over two-thirds of Guyana’s territory.
Guyana and Venezuela committed to peaceful coexistence in an eleven-point declaration from a high-level summit in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in December last year.
Both countries agreed that they would not, directly or indirectly, threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances, including those consequential to any existing controversies between the two States.
In addition, they committed to resolving any controversies via
international law.
The border controversy is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Take care that gift make u sick.
Wonderful !
Ifraan Ali will dispose of that gift. He has alot of anger towards Venezuela which stems from pride and history. He is now in a position of power and influence and is only doing this for the people, but his blood is cooking!
At last something positive for a change. Moving in the right direction.
Ali is not a stupid backward thinking leader. He knows what he is doing. He is not a leader on a crash course. Guyana had asked the International Court of Justice to order a halt. This border issue has been settled for over 120 years. Sovereign borders must be respected wherever they are in the world..
The Essequibo river flows in Guyana.
Ali is backed by the UK who will continue to work with Guyanese partners to ensure the territorial integrity of Guyana is upheld.
US has also reaffirmed its support for Guyana’s Sovereignty. So man can’t just take other man by force!
Guyana’s history is much more Caribbean than it is South American. No other South American country were ever British colonies and in that way Guyana is unique.
So what more is there to do Venezuela, keep yourself on friendly terms with your neighbours. Or else face the consequences of International Law. Ali wants unity not division for his people and his Caribbean friends. So M sit down, have a drink. We are civilised people in the Caribbean.
Well, some of us are.
Some of you don’t understand the meaning of leadership, you just use vexation to get your way and refuse to work things out. That’s not smart leadership that’s backward, dotish leadership. You don’t spite your enermy, you find meaningful ways to keep the peace or at least try. But some of all you too conceited and pompous. Talk and no action. Just because you don’t agree with someone or something, it does not mean you can’t find middle ground. Something some of you Lucians should exercise.
Good to see a shake of hands, let’s hope you South American people don’t do a u-turn.
Then comes sudden destruction. Guyana watch yuh back.