Attorney General, Anil Nandlall has issued a call on Parliaments around the world to condemn Venezuela’s flagrant violation of the provisional measures handed down by International Court of Justice (ICJ). Those measures were intended to maintain peace and stability in the Latin America and Caribbean Region as it adjudicates over the border case brought against the Spanish-speaking country by Guyana.

As he addressed the 148^th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday, the Attorney General explained that in breach of both the letter and spirit of the interim measures granted at the ICJ and the December 2023 Argyle Declaration, the Venezuelan Government recently enacted laws in its Parliament to annex two-thirds of Guyana’s sovereign territory.

“I appeal to each of you to use the theme of this Conference and the platform of your respective Parliaments to condemn the actions of Venezuela; to demand compliance with International Law; and to call for diplomacy to be used as a bridge for peace and understanding.  This is not a favour to Guyana, but it is discharging a duty we owe to ourselves and indeed the world, if we are to be true to the founding principles of this organization,” Minister Nandlall told he world leaders present.

Mr. Nandlall noted that the claim by Venezuela was finally and conclusively settled by Arbitration in 1899, and it was not until the early 1960’s when Guyana was about to gain independence from Great Britain that Venezuela made the outrageous claims that the Arbitral Award was unlawful.

The Attorney General said in accordance with the provisions outlined in the 1966 Geneva Agreement, the controversy is now before the ICJ for a final settlement. However, Venezuela has so far refused to accept the Court’s jurisdiction or to be bound by any order the Court makes.

“Every major international organisation in the Western Hemisphere has condemned Venezuela’s actions and have called upon Venezuela to respect the jurisdiction of the ICJ, to comply with international law and to employ diplomacy in resolving this alleged dispute. These include the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), the Commonwealth, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Many Governments, including, the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Brazil, and those of the Caribbean Region have issued similar statements. Significantly, by virtue of an intervention brokered by CARICOM and CELAC, the Presidents of Venezuela and Guyana signed an Accord in Argyle, St Vincent in December, 2023, inter alia, not to take any steps to escalate this conflict but to resort to diplomacy and dialogue in resolving it,” the Attorney General said.

Mr. Nandlall said in clear violation of the orders of the ICJ and the Argyle Declaration, Venezuela has attempted to annex Guyana’s Essequibo Region.

Turning his attention to the war in Gaza and the breakdown of democracy in Venezuela, the Attorney General said it was unfortunate that the Conference failed to harness the energy and support needed to condemn the worst human rights tragedy in the world – Gaza, and the lack of democracy in Venezuela.

“These horrendous events, although occurring on opposite sides of the globe, together manifest the deadly havoc that armed conflicts wreaks and the social disorder and human sufferings that the absence of democracy produces. More than 30,000 are dead in Gaza. Nearly eight million refugees have fled Venezuela,” he told the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The conference, which wrapped up today was held under the theme Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding.

It has provided a platform for delegates to deliberate, exchange views and galvanize parliamentary action in keeping with the theme.

The Speaker and Clerk of the National Assembly, Local Government Minister Sonia Parag and Opposition MP Dawn Hastings-Williams, were among the other members of the Guyana delegation at the meeting.

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