Ever since the discovery of commercial quantities of oil and gas offshore Guyana, the border controversy with Venezuela has received widespread attention; but one question remains: Will the two South American countries come to an amicable
Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey
solution to the longstanding issue?
Former Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Henry Jeffery is of the strong opinion that in events leading up to the border controversy possibly being referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Venezuela would not readily accept arbitration for resolution of the controversy, mainly because the process that employs facilitators has been ongoing for some time without managing to resolve the controversy, and placing the controversy in the hands of another facilitator would not lead to a different result.
And he does not think the border controversy would be settled if the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rules in favour of Guyana.
“The Venezuelans don’t want to go to any court. The Venezuelans feel that this is a matter for negotiation. They are bigger than (Guyana and) larger than (Guyana), and (Venezuela is) not even (a) member of the International Court of Justice; so we can expect them not to take serious what (the ICJ) says,” he explained.
He further reasoned: “Although they (Venezuela) wouldn’t want (the ruling) to come out against them — because it then gives Guyana some moral leverage — I don’t think (that ruling would) solve the issue.”
Arguing that border issues are not solved effortlessly, even when the matter is taken to the International Court of Justice, Dr Jeffrey declared that both sides of the political divide in Venezuela are united on the issue.
“So I believe what we are struggling here for is some kind of leverage and moral authority. I doubt it would solve the problem in any sensible way, or in a way we would like to see it solved,” he added.
However, he told Guyana Times that, as a Guyanese, he would hope that this time around the issue would get the attention it deserves, so that Guyana’s development can move ahead peacefully.
Asked whether he thinks Venezuela would continue to show its military strength and/or would contemplate invading the Essequibo which it is claiming, Dr Jeffery said he believes the days for such action are long gone and Venezuela wouldn’t risk making such a move.
“Maduro (Nicolas) is in enough trouble, and some may want to suggest that he would want to take away that (the Essequibo from Guyana). I don’t think he has the time to do that sort of thing without falling altogether.
“Some people are saying that the people who take over from Maduro might be more rabid about the border issue,” he warned.
With a territory that is several times bigger than Guyana’s, and a population that is almost 40 times that of Guyana’s, Venezuela, in 1968, claimed the entire territorial sea of Guyana by means of the Leoni Decree, which has never been withdrawn. For decades now, Venezuela has occupied the Guyana side of Ankoko Island, objected to the development of hydro power stations in Essequibo, and has been staunchly opposed to Guyana exploring for oil offshore and onshore its Essequibo territory.
The Venezuelan Navy had, in 2013, intercepted and detained a Malaysian seismic vessel that had been conducting surveys in an offshore concession granted by Guyana to the United States-based Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, causing that company to leave and never return.
There have also been incidents inland Guyana, with Venezuelan aircraft attacking vessels operating on the portion of the Cuyuní River that the arbitration court has awarded Guyana.
Guyana is now seeking relief through one of the options in Article 33 of the United Nations Charter. Those options include arbitration and juridical settlement of the issue.
