Provocative act by Venezuela: Caricom support for Guyana must be reflected not only in declarations – Pres Ali tells Chair

…as Guyana formally protests Venezuela’s provocation during visits to Barbados, Grenada

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday penned a stern letter to Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Prime Minister (PM) of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, expressing Guyana’s deep concern over the provocative act by Venezuela’s acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, who wore a brooch depicting the Essequibo region as part of Venezuela, during her recent visits to Barbados and Grenada. Rodriquez, during an official visit to Barbados, wore a brooch with a map of Venezuela which includes Guyana’s Essequibo region. Rodriquez wore a similar brooch during her earlier state visit to Grenada.
In his letter, the Guyanese leader noted that “Caricom’s principled support for Guyana must be reflected not only in declarations, but also in the context and conduct of official engagements.” President Ali outlined that Guyana fully respects the sovereign right of Caricom Member States to conduct bilateral relations with all partners, including Venezuela. However, he noted that it is deeply regrettable that such engagements have been accompanied by the prominent display of symbols asserting Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s territory.
“The use of Caricom engagements to project or promote a territorial claim against a Member State risk being interpreted as acquiescence or tolerance. No action, whether deliberate or inadvertent, should create the impression that the Community’s platforms may be used to advance claims now before the International Court of Justice (ICJ),” the letter noted.

Final adjudication
President Ali added that this is not a matter of symbolism alone, but, “a calculated and provocative assertion of a claim that Guyana has consistently and lawfully rejected, and which is before the International Court of Justice for final adjudication.”
He contended that Venezuela cannot, while the case is before the World Court, seek to normalise by symbols, maps, legislation, appointments or official display what it has failed to establish in law. “Such conduct does not strengthen Venezuela’s case; it undermines confidence in its stated commitment to peaceful settlement, international law, and good neighbourly relations,” he posited. Moreover, the Guyanese Head of State outlined in the letter that Guyana’s consistent position is that the boundary between the two nations was settled by the 1899 Arbitral Award, which determined the boundary as a full, perfect and final settlement.
“Venezuela’s revival of the claim decades later, and its more recent measures purporting to annex the Essequibo and appoint officials for that territory, form part of a pattern of conduct inconsistent with international law and the process to which the matter has been submitted,” the letter added. President Ali reminded that these actions persist notwithstanding the Order of the Court of 1 December 2023, which required Venezuela not to take any action that would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby Guyana administers and exercises control over that area and required both Parties to refrain from any action that might aggravate or extend the dispute or make it more difficult to resolve.
Against this backdrop, President Ali stated in the letter: “I am writing to you, the current Chairman of Caricom, conveying Guyana’s concern and urging continued vigilance in safeguarding the Community’s principled position.”

Unequivocal Support
President Ali also reminded, via the correspondence, that all Caricom Heads of Government have repeatedly pledged their unequivocal support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for the resolution of the controversy through the judicial process before the Court. In fact, he reminded that that position was reaffirmed most recently at the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government. In this regard, President Ali noted that Guyana remains fully committed to the peaceful resolution of this matter in accordance with international law, expressing that “we continue to repose our confidence in the Court and to respect its processes and eventual judgment.” At the same time, he said Guyana expects all States, including Venezuela, to act consistently with the principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter, refrain from provocation and respect the ongoing judicial process.

ICJ
These actions from Caracas come as the border controversy case is set for oral hearings on May 4, after which, the World Court would deliberate on its decision.
Guyana is seeking a final and binding settlement of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which demarcates the boundaries between the two nations.