By Frederick Halley

GUYANESE turned out in their numbers at the Windies Restaurant in Scarborough, Toronto, Canada, on Sunday, to show their patriotism, as the Guyana Consulate held a “Day of Unity and Patriotism” to support local efforts to preserve the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The event coincided with the rally held at the Guyana National Stadium, where President, Dr Irfaan Ali addressed a mammoth crowd to affirm the nation’s position regarding the ongoing border controversy with Venezuela.
Organised by the One Guyana Forum, the occasion attracted Guyanese from all walks of life who were all in unison that “Guyana belongs to Guyanese.”

In brief remarks via Zoom, Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, thanked the Guyanese at home and Canada for their outpouring of support and solidarity.
The minister emphasised that Guyana will continue to follow a peaceful path and that Essequibo will remain a part of Guyana.

Honorary Consul General Mani Singh, in an emotional address, related the old saying: “It matters not where we roam, there’s no place like home.”
According to Singh, despite the internal differences among Guyanese, the people of Guyana are known for working together when it comes to defending the nation in every way.

“We are a resolute people and the Venezuelans must understand that all of Guyana belongs to Guyanese. We stand in solidarity with our brothers back home. We will defend our country in a very peaceful way,” he said.
The genesis of the border controversy goes back to the 1899 Arbitral Award, a landmark decision that delineated the land boundary between British Guiana (now Guyana) and Venezuela.

Despite the historic arbitration, tensions have persisted, with Venezuela repeatedly challenging the validity of the award.
In 2018, Guyana took a decisive step by approaching the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking affirmation of the award’s legitimacy.

Venezuela, taking a defiant stance, initially claimed that the ICJ lacked jurisdiction, a contention flatly rejected by the World Court in a crucial ruling in December 2020. The door was thus opened for the ICJ to delve into the case’s merits.
Attorney-at-law Selwyn Pieters, in his remarks, said: “Venezuela accepted and honoured the border determined by the 1899 Arbitral Award for more than half a century.”

In light of Venezuela’s heightened aggression over its claim to Guyana’s territory, the Attorney-at-law said: “We as Guyanese have to stay woke and stay engaged. This is the time for all Guyanese to support our government in its fight against this existential threat from Venezuela and its President, Nicolas Maduro.”