BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AS the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) continues to play the wait an see game with Venezuela concerning the border contraversy with Guyana, Government of the Spanish-speaking country is now displaying a show of force.
Venezuela has positioned troops along Guyana’s western border in its claim of ownership of the Essequibo region, which has been at the center of controversy for decades.
Now, CARICOM, a mediator, has reaffirmed that international laws must be followed in the vexing issue.
In its media statement, the regional bloc has taken note of the decision by the Venezuelan National Assembly to conduct a popular referendum on defending Venezuela’s claim of Essequibo.
That claim has been in the works for years and has been referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“CARICOM further notes that two of the questions approved to be posed in the Referendum, if answered in the affirmative, would authorise the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to embark on the annexation of territory, which constitutes part of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and to create a state within Venezuela known as Guyana Essequibo,” CARCOM’s statement read.
It continued: “CARICOM reaffirms that international law strictly prohibits the government of one State from unilaterally seizing, annexing or incorporating the territory of another state. An affirmative vote as aforesaid opens the door to the possible violation of this fundamental tenet of international law.”
CARICOM noted that “the land and water in question - the Essequibo Region of Guyana - comprises more than two-thirds of the whole of Guyana itself”.
“CARICOM notes that the language of two questions approved to be posed in the Referendum seeks an affirmation and implementation of Venezuela’s stance on the issue ‘by all means, according to/with the Law’. It is open to reasonable persons to conclude that ‘by all means’, includes means of force or war,” the statement noted.
The bloc is hopeful that “Venezuela is not raising the prospect of using force or military means to get its own way in this controversy over territory”.
“CARICOM reiterates its support for the judicial process and expresses the hope that Venezuela will engage fully in that process before the International Court of Justice which has determined that it has the jurisdiction in the case brought before it to determine the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award which Venezuela questions. The Court’s final decision will ensure a resolution that is peaceful, equitable and in accordance with international law,” the statement added.
Regional leaders have been somewhat silent on the recent position taken by Caracas, but Guyana’s Government is not sitting back as was indicated at the recently held UNited Nations General Assembly in New York.
