In response to Venezuela’s recent legislative move, which declared the Essequibo region of Guyana as part of Venezuela, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo highlighted the seriousness with which Guyana views any threat to its sovereignty, even though it may very well be a distraction tactic from the nation’s domestic issues. During his press conference today he stated, “Any threat to sovereignty is taken seriously by the Government of Guyana.”
His statement comes after Venezuela’s National Assembly unanimously passed a law creating the state of Guayana Esequiba, encompassing the disputed Essequibo territory, which has been under Guyanese control since the late 1800s. This move has been met with strong opposition from Guyana, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issuing a press statement denouncing it as a violation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity last week.
Furthermore, Jagdeo asserted that Venezuela’s actions directly contravene international law, including the United Nations Charter and the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on December 1, 2023. The Argyle Declaration of December 14, 2023, which aimed to maintain the region as a zone of peace, has also been cited as being disregarded by Venezuela.
The Essequibo region, which constitutes more than two-thirds of Guyana’s national territory, has long been a subject of controversy between the two countries. Despite efforts to resolve the issue peacefully, Venezuela’s recent legislative maneuver has escalated tensions in the region.
Nevertheless, Jagdeo said Guyana remains steadfast in its commitment to peace and has called upon the international community to reject Venezuela’s illegal expansionism. He emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law which maintains that Venezuela must engage in dialogue and revert to the ICJ for a full and final resolution of the territorial dispute.
Meanwhile, Venezuela is facing its own domestic challenges as it prepares for the 2024 elections. President Maduro’s administration has been accused of using the Essequibo issue as a distraction tactic, particularly in light of the recent controversy surrounding the ban on opposition figure Maria Machado from participating in the elections. Despite winning an opposition primary with overwhelming support, Machado has been barred from running for public office by Venezuela’s Supreme Court, which is perceived to be loyal to the government.
As tensions simmer between Guyana and Venezuela, the international community closely watches the developments in this longstanding territorial controversy, with hopes for a peaceful resolution through diplomatic means.
