‘Venezuela’s referendum has no validity, bearing, or standing in international law’

‘Venezuela’s referendum has no validity, bearing, or standing in international law’ – CARICOM

Oct 26, 2023 News

Kaieteur News – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Wednesday said that Venezuela’s move to hold a referendum on its baseless claim of the Essequibo “has no validity, bearing, or standing in international law.”

The long-standing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela revolves around Venezuela’s claim to a significant portion of Guyana, which includes the entire Essequibo region and its offshore exclusive economic zone. With the matter now referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Guyana is actively pursuing a binding judgment to assert its ownership of the Essequibo region.

However, in a recent move, Venezuela has opted to conduct a “consultative referendum” scheduled for December 3, 2023. This referendum seeks to gauge public support for Venezuela’s decisions regarding the Essequibo region. Notably, Guyanese leaders have announced that they are united in rejecting Venezuela’s referendum.

In a press statement, CARICOM noted that two of the questions approved to be posed in the Referendum, if answered in the affirmative, would authorise the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to embark on the annexation of territory, which constitutes part of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and to create a state within Venezuela known as Guyana Essequibo.

CARICOM reaffirmed that international law strictly prohibits the government of one State from unilaterally seizing, annexing or incorporating the territory of another state. An affirmative vote as aforesaid opens the door to the possible violation of this fundamental tenet of international law.

The Caribbean body also emphasised in its statement that the land and water in question — the Essequibo Region of Guyana — comprises more than two-thirds of the whole of Guyana itself. CARICOM noted too that the language of two questions approved to be posed in the Referendum seeks an affirmation and implementation of Venezuela’s stance on the issue “by all means, according to/with the Law.” It is open to reasonable persons to conclude that “by all means”, includes means of force or war.

“CARICOM earnestly hopes that Venezuela is not raising the prospect of using force or military means to get its own way in this controversy over territory. After all, it has been the long-standing position of Latin American and Caribbean counties, including Venezuela, that our region must remain a zone of peace,” it was stated.

Meanwhile, CARICOM insists that the Referendum proposed by Venezuela has no validity in international law in relation to this controversy and noted that the referendum is a purely domestic construct, but its summary effect is likely to undermine peace, tranquility, security, and more, in the region.

CARICOM reiterated its support for the judicial process and expresses the hope that Venezuela will engage fully in that process before the International Court of Justice which has determined that it has the jurisdiction in the case brought before it to determine the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award which Venezuela questions. The Court’s final decision will ensure a resolution that is peaceful, equitable and in accordance with international law.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Guyana, International Court of Justice (ICJ), referendum, Venezuela

Latest News

‘Venezuela’s referendum has no validity, bearing, or standing in international law’ – CARICOM

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Similar Articles

Listen to the The Glenn Lall Show

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Albion Cricket Club refuses participation in BCB Two-Day Final

VIEW ALL SPORTS

Features/Columnists

Should overseas-based Guyanese qualify for the cash grant?

Sir. Ronald Sanders

Haitians should not be forgotten or left stranded

The GHK Lall Column

Unintended exposure, unlimited free global advertisement

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

> Berbice Bridge […]