President Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday night used part of his first Independence Day message as President to address the current Venezuela border claim. Venezuela continues to claim Guyana’s entire Essequibo region although the matter was settled decades ago.
In this address, the President said while Guyana seeks to build friendly relations with its neighbours, it will not be bullied by Venezuela.
“Our only wish is to live in harmony and cooperation with all our neighbours. We hold out not a fist of war but a hand of friendship, based on respect for our borders and theirs. But we will not be cowered, nor will we be bullied”, President Ali said.
The President said Venezuela has spent the last fifty-five years of Guyana’s Independence pursuing its claim, adding that this might have had some impacts on Guyana.
“International law is not silent,” President Ali said, noting that “the International Court of Justice is the forum where the voice of international law will be heard, and justice will be determined. As one people, with one united voice, and a spirit that will not be broken, we will advance the validity of the 122-year-old award that fixed our boundaries”.
According to the President, Guyana remains resolute and confident in its position and is thankful for the support it has received from other countries.
“In our continuing struggle, we are not without friends. We deeply appreciate all those who have stood by our side – from the Caribbean, from the Commonwealth, from the Americas and beyond”, he noted.
Guyana moved to the International Court for a final juridical decision to confirm the full legal validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award which established the international boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.
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