Ross Sheil, Staff ReporterCARICOM LEADERS at their 27th conference held in St. Kitts last week appeared to be lining up behind the bid by Venezuela against the United States-backed Guatemala for a seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Speaking to reporters in St. Kitts on Thursday, the last day of the conference, Roosevelt Skerritt said that CARICOM had taken a decision to deliver their vote, normally given en bloc, for Venezuela rather than Guatemala.
"CARICOM has decided to support the candidacy of Venezuela," Mr. Skerritt told reporters.
However, at a final press conference later that evening, Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts, the new Chairman of CARICOM heads, refused to confirm Mr. Skerritt's claim but gave strong indications that CARICOM countries would support Venezuela at the vote in October.
Both Venezuela and Guatemala have territorial disputes with CARICOM members. While Venezuela has a border dispute with Guyana and lays claim to Bird Rock Island in the Eastern Caribbean, Mr. Douglas said that he "hoped" that if it were to receive the CARICOM vote, that it would respect the territorial integrity of member states. He acknowledged that the Venezuelan claim concerning Guyana "is not as strident as it was."
Mr. Douglas said that he believed member states would support the country that laid the least territorial claim. CARICOM members believe that Guatemala's dispute with Belize is more significant.
"The whole point is that Guatemala is extremely hostile in its claim and I don't know that any member of the Caribbean will support Guatemala in that regard. We will not support any country that is laying claim to more than half of another member territory of the Caribbean Community and I believe that needs to be made extremely clear," said Mr. Douglas.
Guatemala is viewed within CARICOM as opposed to regional interests. As Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua reminded the audience at the press conference, Guatemala led the successful campaign within the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by South American banana producers to end preferential trading arrangements enjoyed by their rival Caribbean producers with the European Union (EU). Within world trade negotiations it also opposes special and differential treatment for small and vulnerable economies, such as CARICOM states.
NO SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA
Earlier that morning Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados, without being drawn on whether he would support Venezuela, said that his country would not support Guatemala because it could not expect Guatemala to represent the interests of his country on the UNSC.
"Our support for the candidature of Guatemala does not coincide with the principles that the government of Barbados promotes, nor does it reflect a representation of our interests. And the country (that Barbados chooses for the UNSC seat) could really not take such a hostile position on matters that are fundamental to our interests such as special and deferential treatment in world trade arrangements," said Mr. Arthur.
He was displeased that approaches to Barbados and CARICOM countries were made not by Guatemala but instead by the United States. The U.S. opposes Venezuela given its worsening relations with its president, Hugo Chavez.
Asked if CARICOM would be swayed by the U.S. position, Mr. Douglas replied: "In fact, the United States has made it clear it will attempt to veto anything that Venezuela attempts to put down but that's the United States' own interests and we have our own interests to look after."
Opposition Leader Bruce Golding has previously come out against supporting Venezuela, which he argued would be against the national interest since it would upset diplomatic ties with the U.S.
In contrast to Guatemala, Mr. Chavez sent former Foreign Minister special envoy Roy Chaderton to the conference to lobby heads for their support. Venezuela has maintained close relations during the 27 years of CARICOM, stated Mr. Skerritt. Mr. Chavez has been trying to extend his influence in the region and is currently providing oil to CARICOM members under preferential terms under the PetroCaribe agreement, as well as finalising with Jamaica a US$250 million loan towards the construction of Highway 2000.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who has assumed Jamaica's role in charge of foreign affairs, refused to be drawn on the vote. "It can't be on sentiment. The decision will be taken on principle, and what will be in the best interests of our various countries and the interests of our region and our people," said Mrs. Simpson Miller at a breakfast meeting with Jamaican reporters on Thursday morning.
The non-permanent UNSC member seat is reserved and rotated between South American and Caribbean countries over two-year terms. It is currently held by Argentina.
