Guyana briefs Caricom on border controversy with Venezuela
GUYANA has updated the Caribbean Community (Caricom) on the ongoing border controversy with Venezuela. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, who represented Guyana at the 40th meeting of the Heads of Government of Caricom, said the Venezuela border issue was raised.
“We let them know that the case is before the ICJ and they (Caricom) were happy to know we are following a judicial process,” said Dr. Cummings, adding that the community hopes that the issue would come to a definite end. In an effort to bring an end to the age old border controversy, on January 30, 2018 the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres, in keeping with the 1966 Geneva Agreement, announced that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) would be the means to be used for the solution of the controversy. On March 29, 2018, then Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge filed Guyana’s application with the ICJ. Venezuela’s most recent action the refusal to file a CounterMemorial (CM) on the court’s jurisdiction by April 18, in defiance of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), was the latest in a series of counterproductive moves by the western neighbour. The ICJ had requested the CM after Guyana submitted arguments in November of last year, contending that the ICJ has jurisdiction to hear and rule on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award that fixed the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela. The ICJ requested the CM, so that the court could hear both sides, but Venezuela refused to tell its side.
The recent refusal by Venezuela to submit the CM to the ICJ had prompted Guyana to request that the ICJ go ahead with the case. The court should now rule on whether it has jurisdiction, and, if it does, it should hear and determine the substantive issue of Venezuela’s claim to our land. Dr. Cummings said Guyana remains optimistic about the issue, adding that Guatemala and Belize are experiencing similar difficulties. Belize recently had a referendum and they too have carried their case to the ICJ. “At the Caricom level we wish there is something that will come out and there will be happiness on both sides as we look forward to peaceful settlement of borders and territorial issues,” said the minister. In addition to the border controversy, Dr. Cummings said Caricom noted the situation in Venezuela, but maintained its stance of non-interference and nonintervention. The situation in Venezuela has led to persons fleeing the country and seeking refuge, particularly in the Caribbean.
(Guyana Chronicle)