The United Workers’ Party issued a statement on December 7, claiming 5the Pierre-Administration has yet to proivde comfort to the Saint Lucian people.

“We call upon the government of Saint Lucia to state its position on the situation and to provide clarity and comfort to the people of Saint Lucia and the many persons from Guyana who reside or are now citizens of Saint Lucia,” the UWP statement read.

However, after concluding his official trip to Venezuela, Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre made Saint Lucia’s position on the ongoing Venezuela-Guyana border conflict abundantly clear. Pierre encouraged dialogue between the two countries facilitated by CARICOM to arrive at a peaceful solution.

“We said that our Caribbean must be a zone of peace and we’ve urged dialogue between Venezuela and Guyana which will be facilitated by CARICOM because they are two countries within our region, within our sphere. We are saying let’s not quarrel, let’s discuss our issues amicably. In fact, I was asked by President Maduro to have a discussion with President Ali on that situation,” Pierre disclosed at an October 17, 2023 Press Conference.

On September 22nd, 2023 CARICOM released a statement explaining its position on the border conflict. “CARICOM has also taken note of the decision of the Venezuelan National Assembly to conduct a popular referendum on defending Venezuela’s claim…The Caribbean Community reiterates its full and unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, including its right to peacefully develop the resources of its territory,” the statement read.

Guyana and Venezuela have been engaged in a long-standing dispute over their borders. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in April ruled it had jurisdiction over the issue, which could determine which country has rights to territory rich in oil and gas, especially offshore.