Guyana expresses concern to Venezuela over planned referendum

– says referendum on border controversy will only create more tension

Guyana has reached out and communicated its displeasure to Venezuela, over a referendum planned by the Spanish-speaking country to have its citizens vote on the border controversy with Guyana.
According to a report from BNN Newsroom, the Venezuelan National Assembly approved a nationwide consultative referendum which will see the Venezuelan people being allowed to express their views on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy, through direct and secret votes.
The report also cited the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez. In the statement, Rodriguez is reported to have criticised the delegation that participated in talks with Venezuela in Mexico back in 2021 and to have accused them of backtracking from supporting Venezuela on its border controversy with Guyana.
In a statement on Sunday, the Government of Guyana expressed “deep concern” at the decision of the Venezuelan National Assembly to conduct a referendum on “defending Venezuela’s spurious claim to Guyana’s territory of Essequibo”. According to the statement, this upcoming referendum has the potential to foment further tension between the two States.
“Guyana considers that the only appropriate forum for Venezuela to raise its territorial claim, consistent with the rule of international law and the preservation of peace and security, is the International Court of Justice in The Hague which has already determined, twice, that it has jurisdiction to resolve the competing claims of Venezuela and Guyana to the territory in question.”

“Resolution by the Court assures both Parties of a final, binding, and permanent settlement that is equitable, just and consistent with international law… Guyana’s concerns have been communicated to the Government of Venezuela,” the statement further explained.
Meanwhile, the Government expressed appreciation for the support it has been receiving from countries and international organisations, including the Caribbean Community, the Organisation of American States (OAS), and the Commonwealth.
The Government lauded them “for their principled stand in support of the preservation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Guyana’s strenuous efforts to this end will remain premised on respect for the rule of law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.”
In a statement on Saturday, the OAS had harsh words for the planned Venezuelan resolution. The OAS noted that such a referendum would be illegal under the terms of the 1966 Geneva Agreement, which had affirmed the 1899 Arbitral Award that confirmed Essequibo as belonging to Guyana.
“We condemn this improper use of a referendum because it is illegal according to the 1966 Geneva Agreement and because of similar misuses of this instrument have served as a pretext in the recent past to try to justify the worst actions between states, including the crime of aggression.”
According to the OAS statement, Venezuela and Guyana have a shared responsibility to resolve their dispute in the spirit of good neighbourliness and according to international law and the Geneva Agreement.
“Furthermore, the OAS General Secretariat continues to support Guyana’s sovereign right to practice its franchise on its established and appurtenant maritime area, in accordance with international law and the principals of the United Nations.”
“The OAS General Secretariat objects to Venezuela’s encroachment on Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial rights through intimidatory and unfounded statements that fail to respect international conventions and the 1899 Arbitral Award, for which the latter is presently under judicial review at the International Court of Justice,” the OAS also said.
Meanwhile, both the Commonwealth and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) have also thrown their support behind Guyana against the most recent threats from Venezuela regarding Guyana’s development of its oil resources. In the Caricom statement, the group expressed grave concern at the recent development in the Venezuelan National Assembly.
“Caricom views the stated intention of Venezuela to ‘apply all the necessary measures’ to prevent the operations licensed by Guyana in its waters, as a threat of the use of force contrary to international law. It is also not in keeping with the long-standing position of the Latin American and Caribbean countries that our Region must remain a Zone of Peace,” Caricom said.
“Caricom has also taken note of the decision of the Venezuelan National Assembly to conduct a popular referendum on defending Venezuela’s claim. Caricom expresses the hope that Venezuela will engage fully in the process before the International Court of Justice, which has determined that it has the jurisdiction in the case brought before it,” Caricom further said, adding that the court will ensure a peaceful resolution to the controversy.