The Government of Guyana observed the 125th anniversary of the 1899 Arbitral Award which settled the border dispute between Venezuela and the then British Guiana on Thursday.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that while Guyana still accepts and celebrates the Arbitral Award as stipulated by the Treaty, Venezuela, just after Guyana’s independence, began casting doubt on the award and has now laid claim to more than two-thirds of the country’s Essequibo region.

The Guyana Government said while it notes Venezuela’s continued threats and violation of international law, it will hold fast for the matter to be resolved peacefully.

According to the anniversary statement, the Government of Guyana remains firmly of the view that the Arbitral Award of 1899 is valid, adding that Guyana is committed to a path of final and peaceful settlement and will continue to adhere to the rule of International Law and the procedures of the International Court of Justice.

The statement said the Government has never been more convinced that the Arbitral award of 1899 is valid, and that the rule of international law and the processes of the International Court of Justice will provide a peaceful settlement of the matter.

The Government also issued a call the sanctity of Treaties and the rule of law to always be respected and honoured.

The Foreign Ministry reminded that Venezuela treated the award as a final settlement for more than six decades after it was delivered and has even formally ratify the demarcated boundary in its domestic law and thereafter published official maps which depicted the boundary following the line described in the 1899 award.

However, Venezuela resurrected its claims on the eve of Guyana’s Independence in 1966 and in more recent years has been hostile towards Guyana.

Guyana has instituted proceedings against Venezuela at the International Court of Justice for a final juridical settlement of the border controversy.

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