CARICOM restates support for peaceful solution to Venezuelan controversy Stabroek News March 18, 2000 The CARICOM Community earlier this week restated its desire for a peaceful solution to the controversy whereby Venezuela claims the Essequibo region of Guyana amounting to three-fifths of the country. A communique issued by the CARICOM Heads last week said that they had "reiterated their continued desire for a peaceful settlement to the controversy under the aegis of the United Nations Secretary General." The communique said too that the CARICOM Heads had "noted with satisfaction the continued improvement in functional cooperation and relations in general between Guyana and Venezuela with the establishment of the High Level Bilateral Commission between the two countries." They also noted the decision of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in November to establish a Ministerial Group on Guyana to monitor further developments in respect of the existing controversy.