House unanimously affirms Guyana’s sovereignty

Nov 07, 2023 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

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…rejects Venezuela’s referendum to annex Essequibo

Kaieteur News – Politicians on both sides of the House on Monday showed unanimously affirmed Guyana’s position on its sovereignty and territorial integrity with regard to the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy.

At a Special Sitting of the National Assembly to consider a motion to support for the government and people of Guyana and reaffirming recognition of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the 1966 Geneva Agreement during a special sitting of the National Assembly, the House pledged its full support.

The motion was presented to the National Assembly by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd. It sought to affirm the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana and to denounce as provocative, unlawful, void, and of no international legal effect the purported referendum in Venezuela that is scheduled for December 3, 2023. At the end of the debate, the full House adopted the resolution of the motion which states that National Assembly of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana:

1. Affirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana;
2. Reaffirms its recognition and acceptance of the 1899 Arbitral Award as a “full, perfect and final” settlement of the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela and Article IV (2) of the 1966 Geneva Agreement as giving the mandate to the United Nations Secretary-General to select the means of resolving the controversy;
3. Denounces as provocative, unlawful, void, and of no international legal effect, the purported referendum in Venezuela that is scheduled for December 3, 2023;
4. Supports the Government in its pursuit to ensure a peaceful and lawful resolution of the controversy before the International Court of Justice and rejects the proposal to return to any form of dialogue with Venezuela on the controversy outside of the process before the Court;
5. Supports Government’s formal approach for the urgent protection of the International Court of Justice, with the filing with the Court a Request for Provisional Measures for an Order preventing Venezuela from taking any action to seize, acquire or encroach upon, or assert or exercise sovereignty over, the Essequibo Region or any other part of Guyana’s national territory, pending the Court’s final determination of the validity of the Arbitral Award.
6. Calls for the deepening of engagements among all national stakeholders on issues relating to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, particularly within the context of the meetings of the bipartisan Ministerial Advisory Committee on the Guyana/Venezuela Controversy.
7. Encourages the citizens of Guyana to remain fully engaged on developments surrounding the controversy;
8. Expresses its appreciation to the partners and friends of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana for their support and expressions of affirmation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana.

Meanwhile, in piloting his motion, Todd said the Government of Guyana remains confident that international law will prevail in the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy and a peaceful settlement will ensue.

Minister Todd emphasised that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will end Venezuela’s tyranny and unlawful behaviour. “We are sure of the fact that the International Court of Justice will prevail and the world will stand with Guyana and the people of Guyana…We live in a world where laws and rules must be respected by every nation. We will not be afraid. We stand on principle and on the right side of the law,” Todd stressed.

The border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela hinged on Venezuela’s argument that the 1899 Arbitral Award that established the boundary line between the then British Guiana and Venezuela is null and void. Minister Todd stressed that Guyana will continue to succeed, as the government believes in international law, peace, and stability, locally, regionally, and globally.

The Foreign Affairs Minister also pointed out that Venezuela’s preliminary objections are legally unsupportable and without basis. Minister Todd said Guyana continues to stand on principles and the right side of the law, while Venezuela continues to threaten the peace of the region. “This is a zone of peace Mr. Speaker. This is an era of peace and stability. Venezuela has to stop. Venezuela has to recognise that we need to move forward, in moving this region as one, as a zone of peace, and Venezuela is the only country in this region Mr. Speaker, who is threatening that peace, and that must not happen, not now, not ever,” Minister Todd said.

The Foreign Minister said from the establishment of the Geneva Agreement in 1966 to the Good Offices Process from 1990 to 2017, Guyana has been more than patient with Venezuela notwithstanding its increasing acts of aggression. With the matter now before the International Court of Justice, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said Guyana intends to see the case through to its logical conclusion in the ICJ, despite the threats from Venezuela.

Venezuelans urged to rejection referendum

Meanwhile, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira has called on Venezuelans to reject their country’s planned December 3, 2023 referendum, stating that this process will only bring greater harm. “I call on the hardworking Venezuela people to reject questions three and five of the referendum. I believe the Venezuelan people are capable of reading through the lines and this decision they are asked to make would not bring greater benefits to their lives, in fact it will bring greater harm.”

During her remarks, she also called on politicians to remain steadfast in unity against the illegal claims of Venezuela on Guyana’s territory.

“We stand on the grounds of righteousness and justice and we continue to  appeal for full, perfect, and final settlement of all matters regarding the territory of Guyana,” Minister Teixeira asserted. Referencing the migrants coming to Guyana, some of whom have Guyanese heritage, the minister urged Guyanese to treat these people with respect and dignity as they are still human beings.

“We don’t need to escalate fear. We need to assure people that you are safe…We will not encourage xenophobia in our nation. We have never done that before, and we should never do it,” she encouraged. On this issue, the minister said that Guyanese leaders must remain standing hand-in-hand as they defend Guyana’s claim to the Essequibo region. “Today is the day, today is the day for us as politicians, as Guyanese, to stand united,” the governance minister pointed out.

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• Border, controversy, Essequibo, sovereignty, territorial integrity

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