Guyana Reiterates Commitment to a Peaceful Solution of Border Dispute

  • Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, has reiterated her country’s commitment to a peaceful solution to the border dispute with Venezuela, which is claiming the Essequibo region in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
  • The UN Security Council met in private on Tuesday, April 9, to discuss the recent developments regarding the territorial dispute between the two countries at the request of Guyana’s President, Irfaan Ali, in an April 5 letter he had submitted to the Council. The meeting was held under the theme “Threats to international peace and security” with the Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča providing a brief to the Council.
  • This meeting comes in light of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's promulgated Organic Law for the Defence of Essequiba on April 3, 2024. By this new law, Venezuela purports to exercise control over two-thirds of the sovereign territory of Guyana. This legislation appears to create a new state in Venezuela. The Head of State of Venezuela will have the power to elect a governor, and the National Assembly of Venezuela will have legislative functions in this territory. Additionally, all political maps of Venezuela will now include the ‘state of Guyana Essequiba’. 
  • Rodrigues-Birkett, in her presentation to the Council, provided a thorough overview of the history of the border controversy and highlighted the actions taken by Venezuela in contravention of diplomatic agreements, including the Argyle Declaration, and international law, including the legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice.
  • She emphasized Guyana’s commitment to peace, the rule of law and the resolution of the controversy through the International Court of Justice (ICJ). She called on the Council to impress on Venezuela the need to pursue a peaceful settlement of the controversy by the ICJ, as it is bound to do by the 1966 Geneva Agreement.
  • Venezuela’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada Acosta, who was present at the session, ruled out any occupation plan by the South American country. The UN Security Council, following the meeting at which both Haiti and Suriname addressed the delegates has so far issued no official statement.

(Sources: Loop Caribbean News & NCBCM Research)