‘Grave concern’ over latest in border dispute

CMC – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping says it “notes with grave concern” the latest position on the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela.

“The Caribbean Community reiterates its full and unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, including its right to peacefully develop the resources of its territory,” CARICOM said in a statement.

Last week, Georgetown announced that it had received bids for eight of the country’s oil blocks which are located offshore Guyana.

But in a statement, the Nicolas Maduro government rejected the auction saying “the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, strongly rejects the illegal bidding round for oil blocks currently carried out by the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (Blocks for tender for 2022 – Guyana Licensing Round), since it intends to have maritime areas pending delimitation between the two countries.”

In its statement, Caracas also also noted that any arbitrary concession granted would be “unacceptable” and that “these actions do not generate any type of rights to third parties who participate in such a process.”

Venezuela’s statement has already been condemned by the Organisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General Luis Almagro, who said the hemispheric body recognises the right of Guyana to welcome investors.

“We demand that Venezuela honours its obligation under the Charter to pursue only peaceful means to settle any disputes it may have with Guyana, including adjudication before the International Court of Justice (ICJ),” he said.

In its statement, CARICOM said that it views the stated intention of Venezuela to “apply all the necessary measures” to prevent the operations licensed by Guyana in its waters, as a threat of the use of force contrary to international law.

“It is also not in keeping with the long-standing position of the Latin American and Caribbean countries that our region must remain a Zone of Peace. CARICOM has also taken note of the decision of the Venezuelan National Assembly to conduct a popular referendum on defending Venezuela’s claim.”

“CARICOM expresses the hope that Venezuela will engage fully in the process before the International Court of Justice, which has determined that it has the jurisdiction in the case brought before it. The Court’s final decision will ensure a resolution that is peaceful, equitable and in accordance with international law,” the 15-member grouping said in its statement.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) earlier this week, called on Venezuela to pursue only peaceful means to settle any disputes between them.

“Venezuela’s efforts to undermine our freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity are today before the International Court of Justice as decided by the UN Secretary General under the Geneva Agreement of 1966.”

Ali said that the ICJ’s jurisdiction in the matter has been twice affirmed by the Court and that Guyana remains “confident” that its sovereignty and territorial integrity will also be affirmed when the Court issues its final judgement.

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