You could tell that something big was happening at the Argyle International Airport.
The small aviation facility in St Vincent and the Grenadines, about 13 kilometres east of the capital Kingstown, was a hive of activity this morning.
Over the course of the day it’s expected to be even busier, when the president of Guyana, Dr Irfaan Ali, and a number of CARICOM leaders, meet with the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, for bilateral talks expected to last deep into this evening.
International tensions have remained high, as have concerns by citizens of both countries due to the decades-long dispute over a large portion of land west of the Essequibo River in Guyana.
Last week, Ali doubled down on Venezuela’s attempts to claim the almost 65 000 square kilometres of land, saying it was “non-negotiable”.
Vice president of Venezuela, Delcy Eloina Rodriguez Gomez, arrived in a small jet at 8:55 a.m. and was met moments later by St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, and his wife, Eloise.
Prime Minister of St Vincent Dr Ralph Gonsalves and deputy president of Venezuela Delcy Eloina Rodriguez Gomez .
Just after 9 a.m. Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kerrie Symmonds touched down in a Regional Security System (RSS) military plane.
After being greeted by Gonsalves, Mottley was all business.
“The fact that we are here tells everything, but let’s wait and see and not prejudice anything,” she told Nation Online on the tarmac.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kerrie Symmonds.
Gonsalves was very hopeful today’s talks would be productive.
“We will talk and talk until we get somewhere. We will talk about everything consequential to the Caribbean and people of Guyana,” he said.
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines (left) and president of Guyana, Dr Irfaan Ali.
Ali also touched down in a small jet around 9:30 a.m. and was welcomed by Commissioner of Police, Enville Williams, and a contingent of the country’s constabulary along with the Police Band, before meeting Gonsalves and being ushered into the airport’s VIP facility.
Maduro’s arrival at 9:45 a.m. led to chaotic scenes, with Venezuelan security officers, journalists and other officials all jockeying for position.
Dr Ralph Gonsalves (right) greets President Nicolas Maduro.
Williams and some of his officers had to jump into the fray to bring some calm to the situation.
Members of the Venezuela military at Argyle International Airport. (Picture by Jameel Springer)
There were two military aircraft on the tarmac to the west of the arrival lounge, a small plane and a chopper.
Nearer to the main building, members of Venezuela’s military were milling around, along with a number of international media.
Prime Minister of The Bahamas Philip Davis (right).
Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis, was one of the first CARICOM leaders to arrive, touching down with his security detail just after 8 a.m.
Inside the facility, the Spanish language could be heard throughout, as scores of Venezuelan journalists emptied their laptop bags to start working.
Journalists from Barbados, Guyana, St Vincent and other Caribbean states also arrived just before 8 a.m. (BA)