–Vice-President Jagdeo affirms
–UN Security Council to review Guyana’s report; CARICOM to hold emergency meeting on Venezuela’s actions today

VICE-PRESIDENT, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has maintained that regardless of Venezuela’s attempts to threaten Guyana’s territorial sovereignty and integrity, they will never succeed in their efforts.
He made those remarks during a press conference at the Office of the President on Thursday.

Dr. Jagdeo rejected the attempts by the Bolivarian Republic to cause unease in the hearts and minds of Guyanese, noting that Guyana has always been a country of peace and not belligerency.
He said, however, it is understandable to see the heightened anxiety among the populace, especially given Venezuela’s recent illegal actions.

“We are a people who are not accustomed to war. We’ve been living at peace for centuries in this land and so it’s understandable when belligerent power like Venezuela would threaten the existence of a significant part of our country,” Dr. Jagdeo related.

Completely condemning the sensationalism around the national issue, and the spreading of the Bolivian Republic’s propaganda, the Vice-President said during these times one should not be stirring up more anxiety and increasing tensions.
“We will do all that we have to do to defend our country and every citizen in this country needs to understand that. Whatever it takes, we will pursue that path… We’re serious about that. That’s our commitment to the people of this country,” he strongly affirmed while reiterating that no efforts will be spared to safeguard Guyana’s territorial sovereignty.

With the expectation that the United Nations (UN) Security Council will address Venezuela’s actions “swiftly,” the Vice-President said that at 15:00hrs today (Friday), the international body will be reviewing the report made by Guyana.
Dr Jagdeo said: “We’re extremely pleased that they’ve taken up this matter with this sense of urgency and also that the United Nations Secretary-General has sent to the Security Council provisional measures announced by the ICJ, so clearly the entire security council will have available from the [UN] Secretary-General, the full ruling of the ICJ [International Court of Justice] and the provisional measures.”

One of the key measures restrains Venezuela from trying to alter the status quo, which is Essequibo belongs to Guyana.
Also, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government will gather virtually today for an emergency meeting on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy and the recent actions against Guyana by the Bolivian Republic.

While the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government stands firmly on doing whatever it takes to protect the nation’s territory and its people, Dr. Jagdeo said that not every engagement that the Cabinet has will and should be made public.

“… What will not happen in this government is that we’re not going to give a ball-by-ball blow of every meeting that we have, every discussion we have, [and] every phone call we make. That’s not going to happen because that’s not how you pursue diplomacy,” the Vice-President said.

Emphasising that diplomacy flourishes most when it is done privately, Dr. Jagdeo said that one can see the results of Guyana’s engagements through the number of statements and support from both regional and international bodies.
The ICJ, last Friday, announced 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 in 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.

Owing to Venezuela’s actions, while Guyana maintains its commitment to peace, the Guyanese Head of State, Dr. Irfaan Ali had said the nation is taking various steps to safeguard its territorial sovereignty.
“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.

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 mineral 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.