ERIC IN 1975: VENEZUELA WANTS T&T’S OFFSHORE ISLANDS

IN 1975, six years before he died, then-Prime Minister Dr. Eric Williams warned that Venezuela wanted to recolonise parts of the Caribbean, including Trinidad and Tobago.

Williams said that Venezuela was seeking to extend its territorial borders and that it was eyeing T&T’s offshore islands and several other areas of the Caribbean.

He referred to Patos, which is about 155 miles northwest of Caracas, and was once part of T&T but was handed over to Venezuela in 1942.

In exchange for Patos, T&T was given control of Soldado Rock, a small island about six miles off Icacos and made mainly of limestone.

Both islands are not inhabited.

Williams said that with the return of Patos, Venezuela is “whetting its appetite for other offshore islands.”

There are several smaller T&T-controlled islands, including Gasparee, Chacachacare, Monos, Huevos, Little Tobago, and Saint Giles Island.

Williams said that under Venezuela’s claims, Guyana would become “dispossessed” of much of its territory, including 60 per cent of its coastline.

The country’s ocean space jurisdiction would be reduced from 52,000 square miles to 22,000 square miles, he stated.

He spoke of “Venezuela’s penetration of the Caribbean over the past century” based on a 1492 Papal Bull and the establishment of territorial limits in 1777.

Williams stated that much of Venezuela’s claims were founded on a bid for a 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

Caribbean countries have 12-mile maritime borders.

With almost 1,100 miles of Caribbean coastline, Venezuela would “exercise jurisdiction over one-fifth of the Caribbean Sea’s 650,000 square miles,” he said.

He added: “The Caribbean islands, with smaller coastlines and zone-locked with one another or other states, will be at an enormous disadvantage.”

He identified several other Caribbean countries that would be affected.

Williams called for negotiations under the Law of the Sea.

He termed the issue “a matter of survival for the Caribbean.”

According to the-then Prime Minister, Venezuela was aiming to extend its borders for economic benefits, including setting up processing plants in some countries and an aluminium smelter in Suriname.

He warned that Venezuela would take over several Caribbean industries, including fishing and tourism.

He said: “It is not easy to understand Venezuela’s belated recognition of its Caribbean identity…”

Williams slammed: “Will we all be speaking Spanish in the future?”

He stated that Venezuela’s “vision and ambitions” were being supported by some Caribbean people, “with Trinidad and Tobago the odd man out.”

He suggested that some Caricom leaders were in favour of a Caribbean Federation with Venezuela.

He branded Venezuela’s designs as similar to “Caribbean colonialism in the eighteenth century.”

Williams questioned” “What must I – and all other historians and political scientists – do, redefine our definition of colonialism?”

He delivered the stinging address at the annual convention of the People’s National Movement, at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre.

He addressed the issue in other speeches during that period, each accusing Venezuela of attempting to arbitrarily expand its border for its economic advantage.

He also claimed indifference from Caribbean leaders on the matter.

Guyana’s National Assembly was recently reminded of Williams’ 1975 alerts.

Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd recalled that Williams had advised the Caribbean of Venezuela’s expansionist effort to acquire land from its neighbours.

“The Essequibo region is not the only territory which Venezuela has had her eyes set on and that she has not been able to take possession of,” Todd said.