–President Ali urges Maduro-led administration to rethink its missteps after Bolivarian Republic intensifies efforts to annex Guyana’s Essequibo
–reassures Guyanese that nation’s territorial sovereignty will be preserved, protected at all costs

TAKING the necessary actions to not only protect Guyana’s territorial sovereignty but also to ensure that the region remains a zone of peace, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that owing to the latest “missteps” by the Venezuelan Government, Guyana will be reporting the Bolivarian Republic’s latest actions to the United Nations (UN) Security Council and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) today.

President Ali, in an address to the nation on Tuesday evening, firmly responded to the Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro’s planned set of actions to annex Guyana’s Essequibo region.
“We will not allow our territory to be violated nor the development of our country to be stymied by this desperate threat,” Guyana’s Head of State affirmed.

He further said: “We urge President Maduro to rethink these missteps and to act and behave in accordance with the international law. All our actions and anything we do in Guyana are aimed at ensuring this region remains a region of peace. Our only ambition is for this region to remain a zone of peace…we ask for nothing more or nothing less.”
President Ali firmly stated: “President Maduro’s act is in open defiance of the ICJ order,” noting that the Venezuelan leader’s actions constitute a test to the methods of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The ICJ, last 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, in The Netherlands.

The court ordered that pending the decision of the substantive case which concerns the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award that defines the boundary between the two nations, Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action that would modify the situation that currently prevails with the territory, which Guyana administers and exercises control over.
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.

LONELY AND WORRISOME ROAD
President Ali said that Maduro, by virtue of his actions and rejection of international law, is pursuing a “lonely and worrisome road.”
“It is unfortunate that President Maduro would choose a road of defying the ICJ and defying an international court order,” the Head of State said, while underscoring that this speaks volumes about Maduro’s leadership.
“… It [also] points to the fact that he [Maduro] is unconcerned about the peace and security in this region… the order of the ICJ,” President Ali said.

Owing to Venezuela’s actions, while Guyana maintains its commitment to peace, the Guyanese Head of State said the nation is taking various steps to safeguard its territorial sovereignty.
“The Guyana Defence Force is on full alert,” Dr Ali said, while emphasising that all efforts are being pursued and even engagements are ongoing with the United States Southern Command.

“We are here to ensure the safety of this country, the territorial integrity, the sovereignty of this country and to protect every citizen of this country,” the President told the nation.
CRYSTAL CLEAR
He reiterated that the ICJ has made it crystal clear that Venezuela cannot act or take any action that will disrupt the status quo; and the status quo is that Guyana exercises governance and control of the Essequibo region.
President Ali said that Maduro’s choice of not only defying the ICJ but also issuing direct threats to companies, operating in Guyana is detrimental to the peace and stability of Guyana.

As he openly defied international law, Maduro announced seven actions that his government plans to take on the Essequibo region, one of which includes an order for the creation of entities to grant licences for oil, gas and mines exploration in Guyana’s territory. Maduro has also ordered the dissemination of a redrawn map of his country that now includes Guyana’s Essequibo region.