Member States must uphold int’l law, respect judicial processes – Caricom

…warns against use of regional platforms in Guyana’s Essequibo claim controversy
…reaffirms support for Guyana

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Tuesday reaffirmed its firm support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while cautioning that regional platforms should not be used to advance claims over Guyana’s Essequibo region that are currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In a statement issued, CARICOM said it had taken note of recent official engagements within the Community during which material asserting Venezuela’s claim to the Essequibo was publicly displayed. The regional body also acknowledged a letter sent on Tuesday by President Dr Irfaan Ali outlining Guyana’s grave concern over the matter.
The statement follows recent visits by Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez to Barbados and Grenada, during which she wore a brooch depicting a map of Venezuela that included Guyana’s Essequibo region.
CARICOM said while each Member State retains the sovereign right to conduct bilateral relations with external partners, those engagements must remain consistent with the Community’s shared obligations under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
“At the centre of those commitments stands the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the binding legal instrument that defines the Community, its objectives, and the conduct expected of its Member States,” the statement said.
The regional bloc added that Member States must remain mindful of their collective responsibilities to uphold international law, respect judicial processes, and maintain good neighbourly relations.
CARICOM further stressed that Community platforms and engagements should not be used, directly or indirectly, to advance or appear to legitimise claims that are the subject of ongoing judicial proceedings before the ICJ.
“The community’s longstanding and unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana and for the peaceful resolution of the controversy through the court remains firm and unchanged,” CARICOM stated.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Ali wrote to CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, expressing concern that Venezuela’s territorial claim was being projected during official regional engagements.
In his letter, the Guyanese head of state said CARICOM’s support for Guyana should be reflected not only in declarations but also in the context and conduct of official meetings.
“The use of CARICOM engagements to project or promote a territorial claim against a Member State risks being interpreted as acquiescence or tolerance,” President Ali stated.
He added that Venezuela’s use of symbols, maps, legislation and appointments concerning the Essequibo while the matter is before the ICJ undermines confidence in its stated commitment to peaceful settlement and international law.
The Private Sector Commission (PSC) also condemned the displays, warning that such actions could undermine regional stability and weaken principles of peaceful dispute resolution.
The latest developments come ahead of oral hearings at the ICJ scheduled for May 4. Guyana is seeking a final and binding confirmation of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which settled the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.
But in furtherance of its spurious claims to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass – the entire Essequibo region and a portion of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), where over 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) have been found and production as well as other exploration activities are currently being undertaken offshore – Venezuela has been heightening its aggressive tactics towards Guyana over the years. Just over a year ago on March 1, 2025, there was an incursion into Guyana’s waters by Venezuelan naval vessels which threatened several oil vessels operating there, something which was widely condemned by the international community, including the United States.
However, there was a belief that the January 3 capture of Maduro and his wife in Caracas by US troops to face criminal indictments in New York would have seen an ease in aggression from the Spanish-speaking neighbour. But just last month, Guyana had to reaffirm the country’s sovereignty over its maritime jurisdiction, telling Caracas that it has no legal rights to the waters off of Guyana’s coast.
This was after Venezuela had raised objections to a decision made by the Guyana Government to advance a three-dimensional multi-client seismic exploration to gather data from a 25,000-square-kilometre offshore area within Guyana’s EEZ.