Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana Riding on the Crest of Truth
Last Updated on Friday, 20 December 2024, 23:55 by Denis Chabrol
The Guyana government has dispatched a formal letter of protest to Venezuela against that country’s construction of a bridge to a military base on Ankoko Island, Cuyuni River that borders both countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday.
“Guyana also registered its formal protest of the completion of a bridge built by the Venezuelan armed forces to link the Venezuelan mainland to Ankoko Island, and specifically to the military base which is situated on the part of Ankoko Island that belongs to Guyana,” the Foreign Ministry here said in a statement.
Venezuela’s Ambassador t0 Guyana, Carlos Armadar Perez Silva, who was Thursday “invited” by Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd, reportedly said Guyana would receive a reply to the protest note from his headquarters.
Despite border tensions, the two neighbouring South American nations said they were willing to cooperate against transnational crimes. “Ambassador Perez Silva expressed Venezuela’s interest in partnering with Guyana to combat transnational organised crimes particularly trafficking in persons and human smuggling. In response, Minister Todd stated that Guyana is committed to collaborating to combat transnational organised criminal networks,” they said in a statement.
The Foreign Minister reiterated that Guyana would comply with the International Court of Justice’s decision on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award.
Mr Todd and Mr Perez Silva also highlighted Guyana’s contribution to hosting thousands of Venezuelans who are fleeing the economic crisis.