WITH Guyana preparing to return to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a critical phase in the resolution of the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, a recent diplomatic exchange has brought renewed attention to the ongoing issue with Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, firmly defending the President Dr Irfaan Ali’s response to what he described as a symbolic but serious intrusion.
Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has strongly endorsed President Ali’s diplomatic intervention over Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez’s use of a map brooch depicting Guyana’s Essequibo region during official regional engagements, describing the move as both a firm assertion of sovereignty and a necessary reminder of the legal parameters governing the long-standing territorial dispute.
Speaking on ‘Issues in the News,’ Nandlall said the President’s letter to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was timely and carefully balanced, as it defended Guyana’s territorial integrity, while also acknowledging the sovereign right of member states to conduct bilateral relations.
However, he stressed that symbolism which reflects contested territory currently before the International Court of Justice cannot be dismissed as harmless, particularly given existing interim measures that require both Guyana and Venezuela to avoid actions that could prejudice the court’s determination. Moreover, Minister Nandlall confirmed that he will lead Guyana’s legal delegation when hearings in the case resume on May 4.
The Minister of Legal Affairs opened the most recent episode of his programme by addressing the use of the brooch and the subsequent letter by the Head of State. Citing the correspondence dispatched to the sitting Chairperson of CARICOM, the minister noted that the letter succeeded in registering Guyana’s deep concerns regarding the brooch worn by Rodríguez during official engagements. Emphasising the significance of the symbol, he added, “The impugned badge or brooch contains, or is rather, a map of Venezuela, but it includes two-thirds of territorial Guyana, the exact landmass that is the subject of the case pending at the International Court of Justice.”
The Attorney-General further complimented the Head of State for acting in a manner he described as “swift, mature, diplomatic, but yet firm.”
He further noted that, “The letter recognises, first of all, it expresses great concern in respect of that intrusion and abrogation of the sovereignty of Guyana as represented by that brooch.”
Noting the importance of balancing sovereignty and diplomacy, he added that it recognises the right of every Caribbean member state to engage in bilateral relations with any other state, while also reinforcing Guyana’s rejection of any suggestion that the Essequibo is not part of its territory.
“It reasserts very firmly Guyana’s rejection of any type of signification that that part of Guyana is not part of our sovereign territory,” he said adding, “It rejects any type of symbolism that detracts from the territorial landmass that is Guyana.”
This comes as the minister, along with a number of other officials, is slated to represent Guyana at the hearings of the ICJ beginning on Monday.
While proceedings are scheduled from May 4 to May 8, the minister noted that they are anticipated to extend into the following week.
According to Minister Nandlall, he will head the delegation with support from Agent Carl Greenidge and other officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Government.
He noted, furthermore, that the letter helps to set the stage for the hearings, highlighting several critical points to the regional community as well as the ICJ.
“Significantly, it reminds of the interim measures that were granted by the ICJ, which prohibit both Guyana and Venezuela from taking any steps or adopting any posture that can tend to affect the very issue that is before the ICJ,” he added.
Moreover, the Attorney-General noted that the letter reminds CARICOM of its solid support and longstanding solidarity with Guyana, while also drawing attention to the matter currently before the Court.
He said it calls on the regional body to ensure that its principal position on the issue is reflected in practice.
The minister also highlighted the importance of CARICOM’s response, adding, “I am pleased to have observed that CARICOM responded, maintaining the right of every member state to enjoy bilateral relations with whom they wish, but to acknowledge that international law, the Treaty of Chaguaramas and the territorial sovereignty of member states remain paramount in all those relations.” Additionally, he noted that this response has reasserted CARICOM’s support for Guyana, international law and the process currently engaged in at the ICJ.
While the Attorney-General prepares to head into the case in the coming days, he stressed that it is important for Guyana to stand its ground and not convey any impression of silence or complacency, adding, “Not for one moment must we ever convey the impression that we are acquiescing, or that by our silence or non-action we can be misconstrued as not asserting our rights to that which we know, and which the law says, is Guyana’s territory.” Moreover, he emphasised the importance of vigilance, adding, “We have to always be vigilant, and wherever that ugly hand that seeks to deny our territorial boundaries or deny our sovereignty in any form or fashion, we must reject that hand vigorously and emphatically.”
