GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC -The Guyana government has told oil companies operating under concessions in the Essequibo region to disregard threats being made by Venezuela to withdraw their operations.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told a news conference that the companies, including the US oil and gas giant ExxonMobil, operate legally, and the government will defend the territory’s sovereignty.
Earlier this week, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced administrative measures to annex Essequibo and gave investors three months to exit Essequibo’s exclusive economic zone.
He has also ordered the state oil company to issue licenses to extract crude in the area. Maduro also proposed to the country’s National Assembly to approve an ‘organic law’ to defend Essequibo.
But Jagdeo told reporters those laws have no bearing on international law.
“We’re not paying any attention to his law because it has no bearing in international law and definitely will not have any respect or attention from the government and people of Guyana. Any attempts to explore for petroleum by his state oil companies or state companies in our territory will be seen as an incursion by Guyana,” he said.
Jagdeo said that given Venezuela’s current economic standing, the government has no grounds to announce ‘organic laws’ or ‘social care’ plans for Guyana’s Essequibo region.
“Venezuela has a difficult time finding food for its people. A lot of people fled there. Why would our people want his social attention plan in Essequibo? What could he offer the Essequibo residents, if not more hardships? People are fleeing his country because of the disastrous economic policies he has pursued and the lack of democracy in that country. Who wants more of that?” he questioned.
He has sought to reassure people in the border communities that the Irfaan Ali government would spare no effort to protect Guyana and its people and urged them not to worry unnecessarily.
Last week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) called on Venezuela to “refrain from taking any action” that would jeopardize Guyana’s current control over the Essequibo region. The current status quo has its basis in the 1899 tribunal award, which determined the boundary line between Venezuela and British Guiana.
But Venezuela went ahead with a “consultative referendum” last Sunday in which I said 95 percent of the voters agreed with the proposal to annex the Essequibo.
Jagdeo told reporters that any negotiations to resolve the controversy are off the table, as Guyana maintains that the case must be settled through the ICJ.
“We are open to talks anytime with Maduro and his government, but not on that issue. So, if he thinks that the hostility and threatening Guyana could take us back to the bilateral discussions that he wants, then he is sadly mistaken,” Jagdeo said.
The United Nations Security Council is expected to discuss the Guyana-Venezuela border later on Friday, and the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will meet virtually to discuss the latest situation involving its member country.
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