Gya: Venezuela seizes Dominica's sovereign territory

Caricom foreign ministers are concerned about recent moves by Venezuela to set up a naval base at Bird Rock.

The Venezuelan government has authorised funds for the creation of a scientific naval base, which is believed to be in an effort to bolster its claims to sovereignty over the tiny island.

Bird Rock, a guano-producing islet, is just 70 miles from Dominica but has been claimed by Venezuela.

At the end of the seventh meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) in Barbados last weekend Caricom Foreign Ministers called for an early discussion between the affected states and Venezuela.

They urged that talks be in accordance with the principles of International Law, while stressing the importance of the UN Law of the Sea Convention as the international code for disputes in the world's seas and oceans.

Venezuela, the predator of the Caribbean.