–President Ali says
–tells Anna Regina residents that Guyana is guided by the International Court of Justice

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali on Friday made it clear that Guyana will not be the “sacrificial lamb” in any negotiations between the Government of Venezuela and its political Opposition over claims of the Essequibo.

He told residents from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) that his government will continue to respect the rule of law, and follow the correct procedure through the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“We will not be bullied; we will not be used as a sacrificial lamb in any negotiations currently in Venezuela. Our position is very clear; we are very clear,” President Ali told residents of Anna Regina on Day One of a two-day Cabinet outreach in Region Two.

In March 2018, Guyana filed its application in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking an affirmation of the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, and the international boundary that it established. The ICJ ruled on December 18, 2020 that it has jurisdiction to hear the border controversy case.

Guyana is seeking to obtain a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between the then British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid, and that the Essequibo region belongs to Guyana and not Venezuela.

A report from Energy Company, S&P Global Platts, however, related that Venezuela, in its agreement, rejects the ICJ’s declaration of jurisdiction over the issue, and is urging Guyana to engage in direct negotiations.

“We will call on Guyana to resume the path of negotiations in order to reach an agreement on the territory,” representative of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Jorge Rodríguez, was reported as saying.

Venezuela has said, for the longest while, that it is not interested in having this matter resolved by the court.

ICJ HAS JURISDICTION
According to President Ali: “The international community is clear; CARICOM is clear that the International Court has jurisdiction to hear the matter. So, the propaganda that the court does not have the jurisdiction, we’ve gone past that.”

The President said that the government will focus on the Rule of Law, and continue to respect it.

“The Court has already ruled that they have jurisdiction, and that is where all of our efforts are concentrated. There is no sideshow; there is no propaganda. None of that matters. What matters is the Court, and that is where Guyana is,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces said.

LIVING IN PEACE
The President noted that Guyana is committed to living peacefully with all of its neighbours, and to strengthen the relationships with them all, but this courtesy must be reciprocated.

“We’re committed to democracy, and we are committed to the Rule of Law; we don’t waiver our principles. We don’t waiver depending on the season; we don’t waiver depending on who is in government… We have always respected the Rule of Law, and we have always worked in accordance with the Rule of Law…

We have always respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our neighbours,” President Ali said.
A peaceful conclusion to its border controversy with Venezuela remains Guyana’s aim, but Dr. Ali had affirmed that his nation will not cower in the face of threats against national security.

“As President of our beloved country, my single most important responsibility is to keep the Guyanese people safe. It is the first thing I think about when I wake in the morning; it is the last thing on my mind at night. And my working day is consumed by it.

“But I want no mistake made about it: my government is doing all in its power to vigorously protect our people’s health, and our country’s territorial integrity. Just as we will not relent in the battle against COVID-19, so will we not bend to threats to our national security…

We may be a small country, but we are a proud people. We have no military might, but we have moral and legal right. We pick fights with no one, but we will resist threats from anyone,” President Ali said early this year.