GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC—The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) criticized Venezuela on Monday for the “unacceptable escalation of tensions” with Guyana over the border dispute regarding the ownership of the Essequibo. This oil-rich region makes up about two-thirds of Guyana and is home to 125,000 of its 800,000 citizens.
The regional integration movement, of which Guyana is a member, also said in a statement that it considers Venezuela’s adoption of “the Organic Law for the Defence of Guyana Essequiba” on April 3 this year “to have threatened to undermine peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
The 15-member CARICOM grouping said that in adopting “the Organic Law,” Venezuela “has acted unilaterally, precipitously, and potentially dangerously.
“In the process, it has (i) offended “the Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace between Guyana and Venezuela” of 14 December 2023; (ii) subverted international law; and (iii) signaled a possible embrace of an unworthy aggression to achieve its own articulated goals or purposes”.
CARICOM acknowledged that Venezuela and Guyana have “divergent stances on the border issues” on all matters consequential to the border controversy and the specific modes for their resolution.
“However, both countries have agreed that the issues and consequential matters are to be resolved peacefully and by international law and its relevant mechanisms, including the Geneva Agreement of 1966.”
CARICOM also acknowledges that Guyana has the right to pursue its claim through the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“At the same time, each country renounces threats to peace and the use, or threatened use, of violence in the pursuance of their respective claims or interests.
” Accordingly, CARICOM urges the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to refrain from further actions hindering regional and hemispheric peace and stability. We insist that dialogue and adherence to international law are the only viable paths to peacefully settling the issues.
“The alternatives are too horrific to contemplate. We demand, likewise, patience and calm and an end to any possible unilateral, aggressive actions,” CARICOM added.
Guyana has vowed to maintain its position regarding the ownership of the Essequibo region and to protect its land and sovereignty.
It said Venezuela’s latest actions are a form of annexation by decree, in apparent contravention of the Argyle Declaration and the judicial process currently before the ICJ.
Last weekend, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said by this new law, Venezuela purports to exercise control over two-thirds of the sovereign territory of Guyana.
“Venezuela’s latest actions appear to directly contravene the ICJ Order and also the spirit of the 14 December 2023 Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace between Guyana and Venezuela, in which both states agreed to use international law and diplomatic means to address the controversy and refrain from escalating the conflict.”
“The Commonwealth affirms that the ICJ process is the appropriate and lawful means to address the matter under international law,” she added.
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