Minister Teixeira says; clarifies that there was no decision to have an agreed date for extraordinary sitting of National Assembly on border controversy

MINISTER of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, has called for Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones, to work in the national interest and unite in order to set aside a date for the National Assembly’s extraordinary session.

This session is aimed at considering a motion on the ongoing Guyana-Venezuela border controversy, which is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“I therefore ask that due to the urgency and national importance of this matter that we do not “split hairs” and proceed with the understanding of the meeting of His Excellency, the President and the Honourable Leader of the Opposition that an Extraordinary sitting be held as soon as possible,” Minister Teixeira said.
Adding: “Notwithstanding, I am prepared to meet you tonight at my office 7:30 p.m. or tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at my office to discuss the date for the Extraordinary sitting.”
In response to a letter by Jones, she maintained that the subject-matter of the previous meeting between the Opposition and the Government was to brief the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, and his delegation on the existential threat by Venezuela to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a unanimous commitment to the process to resolve the controversy through the ICJ.

The minister then stated that there was an agreement to hold an urgent extraordinary sitting of the National Assembly, which would deal with the recent developments in Venezuela with regards to the referendum planned for December 3, 2023.

She underscored that at no point in the meeting was there an agreement that there needed to be an agreed date between the government and opposition before the siting was called.
“It was agreed that this sitting would be held as soon as possible and within the first week of November. Further, Minister Todd, as deputy Chair, and Minister of Foreign Relations and International Cooperation, would convene a meeting of the Foreign Relations Committee to brief the members,” Minister Teixeira said.
She added: “With regards to Foreign Relations Committee I am advised that the understanding was an extraordinary sitting should be held at “the earliest”, with no date being set nor was there any decision that the Chief Whips must meet to agree on a date.”

In its most recent claims, the Spanish-speaking country has stated that it will be holding a “consultative referendum” on December 3 ahead of the ICJ’s ruling on the matter.
In April of this year, the World Court ruled that the case Guyana brought before it, seeking to affirm the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award settling the boundaries between it and Venezuela was admissible.

This meant that the court could move forward with hearing the substantive case on its merits, of whether the1899 arbitral award settling the boundaries of the two countries is valid and binding.

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