The Guyana Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today expressed grave concern over Venezuela once again violating the Argyle Agreement and the order of the International Court of December 1, 2023.

The President of Venezuela in a statement on Tuesday announced the election of a Governor of the Essequibo region, which belongs to Guyana. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the move constitutes a direct violation of the commitments made under the Argyle Agreement and the order of the International Court of Justice.

The Ministry said the people of Guyana’s Essequibo region are Guyanese nationals who live in Guyana’s sovereign territory. The Foreign Affairs Ministry said it would therefore be a flagrant violation of the most fundamental principles of international law for Venezuela to attempt to conduct an election in Guyanese territory involving the participation of Guyanese nationals.

The Foreign Ministry reminded that the ICJ order which was issued on the 1st December 2023, directed that Venezuela refrains from any action that would modify the situation prevailing in Essequibo, which is currently administered by Guyana. The order also emphasized that both states must avoid actions that might aggravate or extend the dispute or make it more difficult to resolve.

The Ministry said the Venezuelan President’s call for the election of a Governor for Guyana’s Essequibo represents a blatant disregard for the order of the Court.

The Government of Guyana has again rejected Venezuela’s claims of Guyana’s Essequibo region and has reiterated Guyana’s full commitment to the process before the International Court of Justice, as mandated by the UN Secretary General under the Geneva Agreement.

The Foreign Ministry said Guyana remains prepared to engage in constructive dialogue under the agreed frameworks, but it cannot condone or accept unilateral actions that threaten its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Guyana has informed the the international community of the latest actions of Venezuela.

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