The vessels with the Guyanese fishermen in Venezuela about to depart for Guyana Wednesday morning. Photo credit: Department of Public Information (DPI) Guyana, courtesy News Room.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana--Venezuela has released a group of Guyanese fishermen who were detained in January, Guyana’s Foreign Minister Hugh Todd said on Wednesday, in what was the latest flare-up in the South American nations’ long-running border conflict.
The dispute has intensified in recent years as Guyana has started developing offshore oil reserves near the contested areas. Venezuela claims much of eastern Guyana, which is hotly rejected by its neighbour.
“Their release was due to a number of factors, including President Irfaan Ali’s leadership in seeking their release, in the support Guyana received from the Caribbean Community, my communication with the Venezuelan government and President Maduro’s commitment to friendship and good relations with Guyana and the Caribbean,” Todd said, referring to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Neither Venezuela’s foreign ministry nor its information ministry immediately responded to requests for comment.
Todd’s statement confirmed a Tuesday evening announcement by Trinidad and Tobago Foreign Minister Amery Browne announcing the release of the fishermen.
The dual-island Caribbean nation had been helping to facilitate talks between its two neighbours.
Todd said the fishermen should be back in Guyanese waters today, Thursday. ~ Reuters ~
