The Guyana Government today expressed its great concern over the adoption of a law by the Venezuelan National Assembly declaring the Essequibo region of Guyana, which constitutes more than two thirds of the country’s national territory, to part of Venezuela. 

The move by Venezuela comes three months after Venezuelan voted in a referendum to officially make the Essequibo region part of Venezuela. The move will see the adjustment of the Venezuelan map to include Guyana’s Essequibo region. It also follows the Argyle Declaration agreed to by President Irfaan Ali and Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the latest move by Venezuela “is a flagrant violation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and is in breach of the fundamental principles of international law enriched in the United Nations charter”.

The Foreign Ministry also described the new Venezuelan law as an egregious violation of the order of provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice on December 1, 2023 and it is a violation of the Argyle declaration if December 14, 2023 agreed to by the leaders of CARICOM and Brazil, the representatives of the United Nations Secretary General, and by the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela”.

Back in November, tempers flared and a war of words between the two nations erupted following Venezuela’s attempt to include Guyana’s territory as part of its own. 

Venezuela has also been increasing its military presence along the bordering region with Guyana although Guyanese were told that the build up is nothing to worry about.

The Government today made it clear that Guyana remains committed to peace on its borders and in the region and will not allow its territory and territorial integrity to be usurped. 

The Guyana Government also promised that it will exert all of its efforts under international law to ensure that its sovereignty and territorial integrity remain intact.

“Guyana calls on the international community to uphold the rule of law, by rejecting Venezuela’s illegal expansionism and by insisting that Venezuela revert to the International Court of Justice which has before it, the case for a full and final resolution of the controversy over the land border between the two countries,” the Government stated.

Just two weeks ago, President Irfaan Ali exchanged gifts with the Venezuelan President in St. Vincent as the two attended a meeting of the Conference of Latin American States.

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