Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has declared her government'ssupport of Guyana's claim in its present maritime waters dispute with Venezuela, a release from the Office of the Prime Minister stated.
Persad-Bissessar affirmed her support to Guyana's President David Granger during the 36th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Last month, the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduroissued a decree claiming maritime waters that encompass Guyana's exclusive economic zone. Within the waters in dispute is a US exploration company which recently announced that it had found minerals on the seabed indicating there may be large deposits of oil beneath.
During discussions at the Caricom meeting, Persad-Bissessar affirmed T&T's common interests with both Guyana and Venezuela.
However, the Prime Minister said that Venezuela's decree is a violation of international laws of the sea and expressed support for Guyana's claim.
Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma also decried Venezuela's decreeand supported Guyana's sovereignty and territorial integrity.