– PM Phillips tells National Assembly
– Says case before ICJ not for bilateral talks
– Consultations continue with opposition, private sector on border controversy

PRIME Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips told the National Assembly that, with a meeting set for President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, Guyana is prepared to speak with Venezuela only on any other aspect that can contribute to repairing the relationship between the two countries.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Monday as he provided the 69th sitting of the 12th Parliament with an update on the current Guyana-Venezuela border controversy.
During his presentation, he noted that the house is unanimous in its resolution that the land boundary is not up for bilateral discussions and that the settlement of the matter is properly in the International Court of Justice, where it must remain until the court gives its final ruling on the merits of the case, which he added will be respected by Guyana.

“The President and government has [sic] reiterated this on numerous occasions and it was underscored by the President to the CARICOM heads of Government that the case before the ICJ will not be an issue for bilateral talks or discussions,” Prime Minister Phillips said.

To this end, he noted that the government was pleased that the statement issued by the leader of the opposition on December 9, 2023 supported its position.

Against this backdrop, he went on to reiterate that Guyana will not be engaging in any dialogue with Venezuela on settlement of the controversy that has been brought about by Venezuela’s claim that the 1899 arbitral award which settled the land boundary between then British Guiana and Venezuela is null and void.

At that moment, he conveyed to the members of the house, “Guyana is prepared to speak with Venezuela on any other aspect that may contribute to repairing the relationship between the two countries.”
Further to this, he indicated that the court’s order on December 1, 2023, stipulated that both parties should refrain from actions that might “aggravate or extend the dispute before the court or make it more difficult to resolve.”

The Prime Minister indicated that Guyana is acting in accordance with the expectations of the court, and it is within this context that the proposal to engage in dialogue on de-escalating tensions was considered.
“A lack of good neighbourliness can only lead in one direction, one that, as a responsible member of this regional fraternity and the international community, we feel it is our duty to present,” he said.

Although Guyana did not start what most citizens are now all consumed by, Phillips reassured the House that the government has not relented on its diplomatic efforts to explain the justness of Guyana’s position and to reach out to regional and international partners to solicit their support in the face of the direct threat of invasion.

Guyana, he added, has intensified these efforts and remains appreciative of the solid and principal support, both collective and individual, of CARICOM states and from allies and partners in the international community.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister took time to address issues raised in relation to the migrant population from Venezuela here in Guyana.

As such, he highlighted the most recent discussion in the national assembly during an extraordinary sitting, where he noted that the government put forward its position on the several measures being taken to receive migrants from Venezuela.
Phillips noted it was explained that the government has put systems in place to ensure that these migrants are treated humanely and provided with all social benefits that are available to the Guyanese population and are not discriminated against.

Further to this, he reiterated the government’s position that there should be no xenophobic tendencies displayed by Guyanese citizens to these migrants.
He argued, “Furthermore public allegations of the government giving citizenship to Venezuelan migrants for elections purposes in violation of our laws should be rejected as baseless and mischievous.”

With this, he then indicated that the government will not rest and ensure that it takes every measure to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana, and in doing so, it will ensure that there is full consultation with the opposition, private sector and civil society.