“The Essequibo is, and will forever remain a part of Guyana”, President Irfaan Ali asserted as he addressed the nation on Guyana’s 60^th Independence Anniversary during the flag-raising ceremony at Fort Island on Monday night.

In his address, the President said for more than 60 years, Venezuela, through persistent threats, territorial claims and periodic acts of intimidation, cast a long shadow over the country’s investment, confidence and development.

Venezuela contends that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the land boundary between itself and then British Guiana, is null and void, and as such has laid claim to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s sovereign territory.

“60 years of sovereignty, and still, still our territorial integrity is under assault. Venezuela has not relented, it has not restrained itself, it has not respected the binding orders of the world’s highest court,” President Ali said.

Having received both oral and written submissions on the 1899 Arbitral Award Case brought by Guyana against Venezuela in 2018, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is now deliberating on the merits of the case ahead of its ruling.

However, ahead of that ruling, the Interim President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez has reiterated Venezuela’s long held position that it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the court, and will therefore not accept the decision of the Court.

But President Ali said Venezuela’s position is not one of peace and respect for international law, as he iterated Guyana’s sovereign right to the Essequibo.

“This is not the language of a neighbour; this is not the language of international law; this is not the language of peace. That is why tonight my language cannot be ambiguous. The Essequibo is Guyana’s. It has never been Venezuelan, nor was it ever Spanish, and for more than a century and a quarter since the 1899 Arbitral Award settled its boundary, Guyana has indisputably included Essequibo. It is and will remain Guyanese,” the President said.  

He said the ICJ has affirmed the jurisdiction to hear and determine the case, and Guyana remains confident that the Court will rule in its favour, and uphold the 1899 Arbitral Award.

“We are confident in our case; we are confident in international law. We stand firm on the validity of the 1899 Award, and we say to the world gathered here tonight and watching from afar that in defence of our country we are united in determination,” President Ali said.

The President said Guyana remains grateful for the support the United States, CARICOM, Commonwealth, the OAS, and all other partners have provided amid threats and acts of aggression by Venezuela.

“Thank you for standing for fairness. Thank you for standing for justice and for peace,” he said.

Notwithstanding the unfounded claim to its territory and acts of aggression, President Ali said Guyana holds no malice toward the people of Venezuela as he extended a hand of friendship.

“We know that the ordinary men and women of Venezuela have not chosen this dispute. We know that many among them yearn, as all people yearn, simply for peace, for dignity, for a better life for their children. To the people of Venezuela on this night of our 60th anniversary as a neighbouring sovereign state, we extend the hand of friendship,” President said.

.He said Guyana will always defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity through peaceful means, through the courts, diplomacy, the principles of the United Nations Charter, and the rule of international law, and not through aggression or war.

The President said Guyana stands ready to work with Venezuela, as with all friendly nations, to build a hemisphere that is safer, more prosperous and more for everyone.  This position, he noted, is not one of weakness but rather a measure of character as an open and friendly people committed to living in peace and to promoting prosperity.

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