-Government of Jamaica affirms in ongoing border controversy
IN welcoming the ruling handed down by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Government of Jamaica has thrown its unequivocal support behind Guyana and called on Venezuela to be engaged in peaceful resolutions and follow international law.
This was said in a statement, published by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, on behalf of the Government of Jamaica.

“Guyana can continue to count on Jamaica’s support of the CARICOM position in defence of its sovereign rights and territorial integrity,” the Jamaican Government said.
“The Court’s Order strongly supports the position of Guyana, which is shared by Jamaica, that the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, should refrain from any action which would seize, acquire or encroach upon, or assert or exercise sovereignty over the Essequibo region or any other part of Guyana’s national territory,” the statement read.
According to the statement, Jamaica supports the Court’s Order that both parties are to refrain from any action that aggravates the current situation, Venezuela’s trail of events which are aimed at annexing Guyana’s Essequibo region, were in the spotlight.

“…It is Jamaica’s hope, as we have expressed on previous occasions, that Venezuela will participate meaningfully in that adjudication process,” the Government of Jamaica said.
The statement further added, “Jamaica expressly supports the statement issued earlier today by President of Guyana, His Excellency, Irfaan Ali, which welcomes the ruling and “calls on Venezuela to join Guyana in demonstrating respect for international law and the principles that govern peaceful co-existence.

“We too view the ICJ adjudication process as a positive signal towards a peaceful resolution of this issue, and one which will give validity to future outcomes.”
The Government of Jamaica also echoed its firm commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
It was said that Jamaica fully supports the work of the ICJ and its ability to deliver justice where there is breach of the United Nations’ founding principles, in an impartial, transparent and independent manner.

The ICJ on Friday granted Guyana provisional measures to prevent any action by Venezuela that could lead to the annexation of Guyana’s territory.
The decision was handed down by the President of the ICJ, Justice Joan E. Donoghue, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The court ordered that pending the decision of the substantive case, Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action that would modify the situation that currently prevails with territory in dispute, whereby Guyana administers and exercises control over the Essequibo.
As an additional measure, the court also ordered that “both parties refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.”