PSC, FITUG condemn Venezuela’s attack on Guyana’s sovereignty

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Thursday commended and pledged its support for the joint declaration by President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton condemning “the flagrant violation of the rule of law by Venezuela” in its most recent spurious attempt to lay claim to the Essequibo territory of Guyana.
The Commission has said it condemns in the strongest possible terms this most recent sinister threat launched by the Government of Venezuela against the integrity and sovereignty of some two-thirds of our country in violation of a Treaty of Arbitration and Final Award of 1899, in place some 124 years ago, which settled for all time as a full, perfect and final settlement the boundaries between Venezuela and what was then the colony of British Guiana, (which) is today the independent country of Guyana.
Further, the PSC has said it wishes to remind the Government and people of Venezuela that on 30th January 2018, United Nations Secretary-General, His Excellency Antonio Guterres, pursuant to his mandate under the Geneva Agreement of 1966, chose the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as a means of settlement of the controversy.
“The Private Sector Commission, speaking for the entire business community of our sovereign nation, reaffirms its endorsement of our government having placed this matter before the International Court of Justice, and commitment to abide by the judgement of the Court on the validity of the 1899 Award as binding on both Guyana and Venezuela,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), in a similar statement, declared it is deeply concerned by developments in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as that country takes steps to obtain a popular mandate in regard to its spurious claim to a significant portion of Guyana’s territory.
FITUG has said it is very anxious about specific questions to permit the Venezuelan authorities to annex Guyana’s territory; for, given recent developments in other parts of the globe, such motivations cannot be easily ignored.
“The FITUG shares that Venezuela’s actions are in clear violation of several international treaties subscribed to by both Guyana and Venezuela. It is equally important to emphasise that we do not support any attempts which seek to claim Guyana’s Essequibo region as Venezuelan territory. We are aware that international law prohibits such actions, and we kindly urge the Venezuelan Government to respect such prohibitions and Guyana’s sovereignty.
“The Federation is of the unflinching view that the referendum process underway in Venezuela has no basis, nor can withstand any scrutiny. We believe it wise that this course of action no longer be pursued, and that both parties confine their representations to the process triggered by and consistent with the Geneva Agreement.”
FITUG fully supports the Government of Guyana in safeguarding our territorial integrity and protecting our borders. It firmly opposes any attempt to impose Venezuelan authority over Guyana’s land and seas.
“We urge Venezuela to participate actively and fully in the ongoing deliberations at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and work towards a peaceful and final resolution. We also remind of the commitment of maintaining the Caribbean and Latin America as a ‘Zone of Peace’.
“We trust that Venezuela will honour its commitment to this cause, and there is no resort to military or other forms of force that will shatter the peace and tranquility which characterises the region”, the FITUG has said.