GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – On Monday, The Guyana government said it had noted Venezuela’s decision to submit to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) 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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that Georgetown has noted that the South American country had “made a submission today to the International Court of Justice in keeping with the Court’s stipulated timeline for the receipt of Venezuela’s Counter-Memorial on the merits of the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899…which is pending before it.
“This case, which Guyana filed in March 2018, seeks the Court’s decision on the validity of the Arbitral Award which finally determined the land boundary between the two countries. The Court has already ruled that it has jurisdiction over the controversy and will decide the issue on the merits,” the ministry said in its statement.
It said Guyana has repeatedly called on Venezuela to participate fully in the judicial proceedings and comply with the Court’s rulings “and therefore welcomes Venezuela’s submissions on the substantive issues that the Court will ultimately decide.
“Guyana notes that CARICOM (Caribbean Community), the Commonwealth, and other members of the international community have also been urging Venezuela to participate in the proceedings before the ICJ.
“Guyana considers that it is beneficial to the Court to have before it the submissions of both parties on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the settlement of the international boundary.”
Guyana, which made its submissions in April last year, said, “With the submissions of both States before it, the Court will be able to take all arguments and evidence into account and issue a more informed judgment, which will be final and binding on the parties.
“Guyana has consistently pledged to abide by the Court’s Judgement,” it added.
Last Wednesday, President Nicolas Maduro, campaigning for the upcoming Presidential election in Venezuela, alleged secret US military bases in Essequibo, calling them an “aggression” and saying they were built “to prepare for an escalation against Venezuela.
“We have information indicating that in the territory of Guyana Essequibo, temporarily administered by Guyana, secret military bases of the US Southern Command, an agency of the CIA, have been installed,” Maduro said.
He also claimed that Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali “does not govern Guyana” and that “The Southern Command, the CIA and ExxonMobil control Guyana.”
Both Washington and the Guyana government have dismissed Maduro’s claim.
Last December, Caracas claimed that more than half of eligible Venezuelan voters had participated in a referendum that yielded overwhelming support for claiming the Essequibo.
National Electoral Council president Elvis Amoroso said more than 10.4 million out of 20.7 million eligible voters had cast their ballots.
The referendum came after the ICJ warned Caracas against “annexation” of the Essequibo.
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