Grenada seeking explanation from Venezuela government

By Linda Straker

THE Grenada Government has written to the Venezuelan Government seeking an explanation for the “accosting and intercepting” of fishing boats in international waters to the west of the island.

Nickolas Steele, Minister for International Business and Foreign Affairs, said that a letter of inquiry was dispatched to the Venezuelan Government via its Grenadian embassy to explain the circumstances that are resulting in the detaining of Grenadian registered fishing vessels.

“This is a matter we take very seriously,” said Steele, who explained that fishermen knew actually where they were located based on their GPS location. “They knew they were in international waters.”

Steele said that the letter is requesting a report on the matter, which will be followed by discussions on the matter. “When the report gets back from Venezuela, we will have discussions as friendly neighbours as to how to proceed, while ensuring that the rights of our cit-izens are not infringed upon and the relationship between Grenada and Venezuela is not degraded,” he said.

“We do share boundaries between Grenada and Venezuela and as such, sometimes there are disputes or misunderstandings. How we handle it will depend on how our relations continue in the future,” he said.

The fishing industry is an integral component of Grenada’s economic development. It contributed more than EC$35 million to the economy in 2012.