St. Vincent PM in Venezuela to meet Maduro on tensions with Guyana

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has announced that its Prime Minister and Interlocutor of the Argyle Declaration between Guyana and Venezuela, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has traveled to Venezuela to meet with Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, on the tensions with Guyana over the border controversy.

In a statement this morning, the St. Vincent Government stated that Dr. Gonsalves is expected to meet with Mr. Maduro this midday after traveling to Venezuela last evening.

According to the statement, Prime Minister Gonsalves spoke with President Irfaan Ali on Monday, urging calm and restraint and for both parties to return to diplomacy.

The statement said the Prime Minister also cautioned that an escalation into open conflict could devastate both nations economically and socially, and destabilized the entire Latin America and Caribbean region, potentially leaving the region with a humanitarian and refugee crisis.

He advised both parties to resolve the matter so it does not lead to any open conflict.

Tensions between Guyana and Venezuela escalated two weeks ago after an incursion by a Venezuelan naval vessel in Guyana’s waters.