Gya: Things done in the dark...

Why did Guyana and Barbados think it necessary to conceal their EEZ Treaty? In spite of both countries saying that no "no third country's 'legitimate' rights are affected," what does that really mean? Why is rights limited by the adjective legitimate? Does that mean that the Guyana-Barbados agreement is likely to impact on T&T's rights in zones that are still disputed? Does that mean that Barbados and Guyana have made decisions affecting T&T without having the decency to include T&T in the talks?

Guyana and Barbados quietly signed an agreement on December 2nd, 2003 for joint cooperation in the area where their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) overlap and they yesterday said no third country's "legitimate" rights are affected.

The statement by the two countries came almost three months after the agreement was signed and at a particularly sensitive period as Barba-dos and Trinidad are em-broiled in a raging controversy over a maritime delimitation agreement that has seen charge and counter charge and the threat of sanctions.

The joint statement by Guyana and Barbados said the Exclusive Economic Zone Cooperation Treaty is now in the final stage of ratification. On December 10, Guyana also secretly signed an immunity agreement to exempt US soldiers from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC). There were no prior announcements of either event and the media was not invited to report on the signings as is customary.