Argyle Declaration invoked to head off tensions between Venezuela and Guyana

The Argyle Declaration which was signed in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in December, 2023 towards bringing about peace and dialogue between Guyana and Venezuela has been tested, and it has worked.

This was the conclusion of Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsavles, who initiated the meeting involving the leaders and officials of both countries, then CARICOM Chairman, Roosevelt Skerrit, Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, and other CARICOM Heads, and officials, to seek to diffuse tensions between the South American neighbours over the Essequibo region.

At the joint meeting on December,14, 2023, the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela both signed an agreement to prevent the hostility from escalating into a boarder dispute between the neighbouring countries and all committee to the Caribbean and Latin America remaining a Zone of Peace.

Prime Minister, Gonsalves as head of Government of SVG which then held the Pro-Tempore Presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), initiated the Argyle meeting.

Gonsalves, this week had to intervene and activate the Argyle Declaration, due to a possible emergency in Guyana waters involving Venezuelan vessels.

Speaking on NBC radio on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the Prime Minister said that on Saturday March 1, 2025, he received a report of potential escalation after a boat from Venezuela was spotted where oil extraction was taking place in disputed waters in Guyana.

“Immediately, the Argyle Declaration had to be activated,” Dr Gonsalves noted.

Upon activation of the declaration, the Prime Minister was engaged in a series of meetings on Saturday, including one with the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, current Chair of CARICOM, to avert the escalating of hostility between Guyana and Venezuela.

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