GUYANA and Venezuela at a meeting here last week, reached agreement on a number of important areas relevant to boosting Guyana’s economic development.

But the key issue relating to the demarcation of boundaries continues to be an irritant for both sides.

Venezuela is claiming two-thirds approximately 61,000 square miles of Guyana’s 83,000 square miles. The territory claimed is located in the mineral-rich Essequibo County.

At a Friday news conference shared by Dr Rudy Insanally, Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his Venezuelan counterpart, Luis Davila Garcia, the former categorically stated that like Venezuela, Guyana believes in its sovereignty, and as such should be free to develop its natural resources.

"We also believe in sovereignty and we will exercise the right to develop our natural resources so I don't think there is a question as to our ability to manage our own destiny," Minister Insanally said in answer to a question.

Minister Davila, who had preceded him with an answer, is of the opinion that the decades-old border controversy is one of the issues that should be resolved through the High Level Bilateral Commission (HLBC).

The meeting of delegations headed by Ministers Insanally and Davila, respectively, has agreed that the HLBC would be reactivated and that their first “full” meeting should be held in Georgetown during the second half of February next year.

“We should strive through the HLBC to find precise responses to the few matters that bother us, which may exist,” the Venezuelan envoy said.

THE HLBC and the Good Officer process, Minister Davila said, are two mechanisms by which the two countries can arrive at an agreement and make progress in everything that has to do with relations between Guyana and Venezuela.

The demarcation of maritime boundaries, he said, “falls within the framework of the Good Officer process, but I believe that we can make progress in many areas without having this difficulty, which is preventing us from going forward.” He said that the process establishes the search for a satisfactory and practical solution to the differences between Venezuela and Guyana.

Through the HLBC, the two sides can examine any area, which is inscribed within the context of cooperation between Guyana and Venezuela.

Minister Davila expressed confidence that the window of opportunity which has now been opened, which he described as a ’Demerara Window’ will show greater results as they progress.

Like Guyana, Venezuela is in an upbeat struggle against drugs and the meeting has listed the subject as one of the sub-areas to be addressed by the HLBC.

“In Venezuela, we have a very strong face-to-face struggle with drugs, But with one peculiarity -- we are very jealous of our airspace,” the Venezuelan Foreign Minister said. He added that his country has established working groups with other states so that investigations could be conducted without there being any violation of territory.

He said Venezuela has been commended by the United States, the United Kingdom and France for the way it has handled the problem of drugs.

Regarding the subject of Guyanese living illegally in the neighbouring country, Minister Davila, who held the post of Minister of Home Affairs prior to his present appointment, described the issue as a “ very big task to be undertaken.”

He said, too, that his country has done an in-depth evaluation of the situation of the Guyanese people in Venezuela.

At this stage, Minister Insanally pointed out that a sub-committee in the HLBC, which will deal with consular relations, will address that question and other related issues.

Meanwhile, on the subject of the open line of communication, which the two Ministers have agreed to establish, Insanally said it underscored a very important demonstration of the belief in dialogue. He expressed the view that the new spirit that exists between the two sides, will help to resolve all the issues that are on the table.

Region Ten can become tourist stop for hinterland visitors
--says Nadir
THE Ministry of Tourism has plans to develop Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice) into a main tourist destination stop on the way to the interiors of Guyana.

And according to Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manzoor Nadir, a great influx of persons is anxious to travel through to Brazil by road. He sees the completion of the Takutu Bridge facilitating traffic overland.

Addressing participants recently at a tourism-planning workshop, as part of Tourism Month activities, the Minister observed that Region Ten has great potential for tourism and work will be done to make it a main stop on the way to the hinterland.

He further predicted that within the next six months there will be increased traffic from Georgetown to Lethem, which would create business opportunities for the residents of Linden in the areas of catering and hotels, a Government Information Agency (GINA) release stated.

The Minister disclosed that the Government is working on making it easier for private investors to become involved in the tourism industry; for persons to access and acquire land; for suitable people to be trained in service delivery; and for the implementation of proper regulations to protect investment within the country.

He said that over the past few weeks he has had discussions with a major film producer, who is contemplating filming a movie here because of the scenery.

Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Guyana, Dr Deryck Bernard, who gave the participants an insight into developing the industry, emphasised the need for good linkages to be established, if the industry is to move forward.

And according to him, there is the need for every Region to have a development plan, which will have to be budgeted accordingly.

As such, residents need to work out a plan that includes the entire community and feature activities that would encourage visitors to return. Regional officials would also need to identify sites that could be declared as tourist spots, Dr Bernard suggested.

High percentage of HIV/AIDS cases at Corriverton
---says Ramsammy
HEALTH Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has revealed that Corriverton, East Berbice has a very high percentage of HIV/AIDS cases.

Dr. Ramsammy made the disclosure on Saturday at the launching of the National AIDS Campaign in Corriverton. He said approximately 20,000 Guyanese have already contracted the deadly virus, and he called on the community to unite and work collectively to reverse the social ills.

The Minister expressed alarm over the increasing rate of those cases in Corriverton, and outlined his Ministry's plans to deal with the epidemic. He said anti-retroviral pills will be available locally for patients, and more doctors are now trained to administer the drug.

He noted that Government has embarked on a programme to this effect.

President of the Cry of AIDS Project, Pastor Mursalin Alim also expressed disappointment over the rise in AIDS cases in the Upper Corentyne town and he pledged to cooperate with other organisations to combat the scourge.

The rally, held under the theme `I care, do you', was organised by Dr. Jhadunauth Rhagunauth, Government Medical Officer (GMO), Skeldon Hospital and supported by several religious organisations, the public and private sectors and youth groups, among others. (Arjune Poonai)