Press
Release
President Bharrat Jagdeo held private discussions
today with the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Patrick Manning
at Whitehall. At a joint news conference held after by the two
leaders, President Jagdeo gave a background to the Guyana/Suriname
maritime dispute and his country’s exhaustive attempt to
seek resolution prior to pursuing compulsory arbitration under
the UN convention on the Law of the Sea.
President Jagdeo gave further assurances that
there is no conspiracy against Trinidad and Tobago. He explained
that the Exclusive Economic Zone Co-operation Treaty between Guyana
and Barbados has been negotiation for two years and not the result
of recent developments.
The Treaty provides for a Joint Fisheries Licensing
Agreement, a Joint Commission for the Exploration of Non-Living
Resources and Joint Security Arrangements in the overlapping Exclusive
Economic Zone between the two countries. President Jagdeo explained
that this agreement is consistent with International Law and the
Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
President Jagdeo said Guyana has always held
a consistent position of objection to the Delimitation Treaty
of 1990 between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, and maintained
that Guyana would steadfastly defend its territorial integrity
and sovereignty.
President Jagdeo said that in his meetings with
Prime Minister Owen Arthur and Prime Minister Patrick Manning
both leaders has reaffirmed their commitment to amicably resolving
differences and strengthening the integration process.
TOP
Monday,
March 1, 2004