CARICOM leaders reaffirm support for Guyana’s territorial claims
Leaders from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have reaffirmed their support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and its pursuit of a resolution to the long-standing dispute with Venezuela through the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados and Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines delivered this message during a joint statement made in Barbados on Saturday.
Backing Guyana’s unwavering position
Prime Minister Mottley emphasized the unwavering nature of Guyana’s stance, characterizing it as robust and steadfast.
She underscored CARICOM’s commitment to stand firmly behind Guyana in this matter, stating, “In this particular case in our view, Guyana’s position has been strong, it has been unwavering and it is before the International Court of Justice and we’ll back them 150 per cent with that,”
Regional leadership’s role
Mottley expressed her reliance on Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who currently chairs CARICOM, and Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who chairs the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
She expects them to play pivotal roles in maintaining stability in the region, even if a definitive resolution to the dispute is not immediately achieved.
The contentious issue centers on Guyana’s 160,000 square kilometer Essequibo County.
ICJ involvement
Guyana has sought the intervention of the ICJ to declare the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award as the definitive and conclusive resolution to the territorial dispute. However, Venezuela does not acknowledge the ICJ’s jurisdiction in this matter.
The ICJ’s impending decision will determine whether Venezuela’s referendum, which seeks to declare Essequibo a state of Venezuela and grant citizenship to its inhabitants, can proceed.
Venezuela’s referendum
Venezuela’s upcoming December 3 referendum also includes a popular vote on rejecting the ICJ’s jurisdiction in the territorial controversy.
The outcome of this referendum holds significant implications for the ongoing dispute.
Peaceful resolution
Prime Minister Gonsalves emphasized the importance of preserving regional peace and the rejection of any use or threat of force in resolving the Guyana-Venezuela territorial dispute. While he refrained from providing specific details, he reiterated CARICOM’s steadfast commitment to upholding the territorial integrity of Guyana.
This commitment underscores the region’s dedication to achieving a peaceful and lawful resolution to this enduring conflict.
