‘Guyana on the right side of int’l law’ – Todd opens Extraordinary Parliamentary sitting as political unity on full show

Political unity on Guyana’s rejection of Venezuela’s claim to the Essequibo region was on full display Monday morning when an Extraordinary Sitting of the National Assembly got underway at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Georgetown.

And Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd, who started the day’s presentations, made it clear that Guyana is firmly adhering to international law.

“We are here this morning as a nation united to show the world that we are on the right side of international law,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said.

And he later added, “In every phase of our history, Venezuela has always been on the wrong side of international law.”

Throughout his presentation, Minster Todd provided what he described as a “history lesson on Venezuelan expansionism” detailing how Venezuela has been trying to negate the 1899 Arbitral Award that both countries participated in and that clearly defined the boundaries between the two countries.

According to him, Venezuela already secured land four times the size of Guyana but now has its eyes set on Guyana’s land.

Now, he believes that Venezuela is threatening the peace and security of the Latin America and Caribbean region, a region that has traditionally been a zone of peace.

“It is unbelievable and inconceivable that Venezuela would want to try fool the rest of the world that it has legitimate right to Guyana’s territory

“This will not stand, we live in a world where international law stands,” Minister Todd said further.

The Foreign Minister moved a motion denouncing Venezuela’s “provocative and unlawful” referendum wherein the Nicolas Maduro government will seek the support of citizens in continuation of its claim of Guyana’s Essequibo region. Guyana views the move as an affront to the ongoing juridical process currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The lawmakers gathered for this Extraordinary Sitting of the National Assembly to denounce Venezuela actions and clearly demonstrate the political unity on the border controversy. They were joined by members of the diplomatic corps, President’s College students and other stakeholders.

And that political unity was quite evident as usual heckling from opposing sides of the House was replaced by sounds of agreement and affirmations including “Essequibo is we own” and “Not a blade of grass.”

Some Opposition Members of Parliament also held up Golden Arrowheads, Guyana’s national flag, as Minister Todd spoke.

And Minister Todd firmly reiterated Guyana’s position; that is, the ICJ is the place where the controversy will be settled once and for all.

“Venezuela has always been defiant… it has displayed to its own citizens and the rest of the world that she is not committed to any legal process but this must end.

“The ICJ will end Venezuela’s (tyrannical) and unlawful behaviour,” he said.

The Guyana government has condemned what it sees as Venezuela’s expansionist ambitions and said the border controversy should be resolved in court as the case is before the International Court of Justice as dictated by the United Nations Secretary General as the means to settle the controversy.

Guyana has since approached the ICJ, seeking an injunction to prevent Venezuela from taking action through its provocative referendum over Guyana’s territory – Essequibo.

The borders of Guyana and Venezuela were determined by an arbitral tribunal on October 3, 1899, and Venezuela inherited 13,000 square kilometres of Guyana’s territory (then under British rule).

The ICJ already found that it has the jurisdiction to hear the border controversy case and Guyana believes it will get a favourable ruling.

“We are sure that the ICJ will prevail and the world will stand with Guyana and the people of Guyana,” Todd said on Monday.