“Guyana will not be bullied, threatened or intimidated” – Foreign Min

…as National Assembly passes motion reaffirming Guyana’s sovereignty

In a resolute address to the National Assembly, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd declared that Guyana will not be bullied, threatened, or intimidated into surrendering any part of its sovereign territory, as he tabled a motion reaffirming national unity and support for the government’s position on the ongoing border controversy with Venezuela.
The motion, presented and passed during the 104th Sitting of the Twelfth Parliament on Friday, seeks the legislature’s full endorsement of the government’s diplomatic and legal strategy at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), while strongly condemning Venezuela’s recent provocations, including its planned “elections” for the Essequibo region and its defiance of binding ICJ orders.
“While our intelligence is that there is currently no physical activity taking place in any of our communities close to the border, or suggests that there’s any preparation for elections to be conducted in our Essequibo, it is important for Venezuela to understand that Guyana will not be bullied, threatened, or intimidated to surrender any portion of our patrimony,” Minister Todd assured.
The motion presented to the House asks the lawmakers to recall the motion passed on November 6, 2023, which reaffirmed the recognition of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the 1966 Geneva Agreement.
It also asks that the House “unequivocally reaffirms the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and indissolubility of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
Strongly condemns the actions of the Government of Venezuela in defiance of the May 1, 2025 Order of the ICJ and views such actions as a violation of international law and a threat to regional peace and stability
Expresses its full support for the Government of Guyana in its efforts to protect and defend Guyana’s territorial integrity through peaceful and lawful means, including continued recourse to the International Court of Justice
Calls upon the international community to support Guyana in upholding the rule of law and the binding decisions of the International Court of Justice
Directs those copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Secretaries-General of the United Nations, the Commonwealth, the Organisation of American States, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, the Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community as well as other relevant international bodies.”
Todd traced Venezuela’s aggressive posturing and illegal claims to the 1899 Arbitral Award, which definitively settled the boundary but which Caracas has consistently rejected in violation of international law. He emphasized that Guyana, in stark contrast, has consistently taken the high ground, opting for diplomacy and the rule of law.
“We remain committed to international law and the peaceful resolution of this matter through the international court process and we call upon Venezuela to comply with the court’s legally binding orders and to refrain from actions that would destabilize this region and violate Guyana’s territorial integrity. Mr. Speaker, today’s motion is not merely symbolic. It is a reformation of the will of the Guyanese people,” Todd added.
The Government has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, while also seeking accountability through diplomatic channels.
Earlier this month, President Dr. Irfaan Ali had reaffirmed that the GDF is mobilised and prepared to defend the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid ongoing tensions with Venezuela.
The Head of State emphasised that security operations are actively underway, particularly in light of Venezuela’s upcoming unlawful elections and continued claims over Guyana’s Essequibo region — claims which Guyana has consistently rejected and challenged through international legal avenues.
After years of failed good offices process through the UN, and based on the recommendation of the-then UN Secretary General, Guyana approached the World Court in March 2018, seeking a final and binding settlement of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which determined the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.
The case is currently pending before the ICJ, which has already established its jurisdiction to hear the matter. Guyana has already filed two written pleadings on the merits, and Venezuela has filed one, with its second pleading due in August 2025. Oral hearings are expected in the first half of 2026, following which the Court will deliberate on the case and issue its final judgment on the Merits, which will be binding on the parties.