Bird Island Again! – Grenada in Maritime Boundary Dispute With Venezuela.

Venezuela’s claim to Bird Island seems about to become an election issue in Grenada with opposition parties protesting the length of time it is taking to settle the matter.

The Grenada United Labour Party (GULP) and the People’s Labour Movement (PLM) say it is time to settle maritime boundaries matters between Grenada and Venezuela. The parties have written a joint letter which is to be delivered to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez through the Venezuelan Embassy in Grenada.

This will be done following what they describe as a walk for oil and gas on Friday from the Tropicana Inn to Islander Gap. The letter will request that President Chavez make a public statement that Venezuela is prepared to sit with Grenada to look at what is required in international law to settle maritime boundaries with Grenada.

During a press conference on Monday; Political Leader of the GULP Reynold Benjamin says when the country can explore oil and gas, several benefits will be derived. PLM leader Dr. Francis Alexis says maritime boundaries can be settled through arbitration.

Organizers of the walk for oil and gas say they have invited all political parties and civil society groups.

Now Dr. Alexis’ assertion is usually true, however the arbitrator for these issue is usually the UN Law Of The Sea Treaty, however Venezuela is not a signatory to that treaty. (unsurprisingly as Bird Island does not meet the criteria under that treaty for it’s massive claim of sea space). It is unlikely that Venezuela will  recant it’s claim, and this does appear to be a somewhat intractable problem.

Of course, Grenada like almost everyone else in the Caribbean signed up to the Petro Caribe agreement. It sounds like they are about to find out exacly how the strings are attached.

We will continue to follow this story.

Marginal

Further reading:

Details on Aves Island – How Venezuela Controls the Caribbean Sea

Venezuela and Bird Island