Attorney General Anil Nandlall has expressed strong opposition to the enforcement of an arbitral award in favor of U.S. firm ConocoPhillips, citing the ongoing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.
The case involves the oil company’s successful 2019 verdict against Venezuela, following the nationalization of its assets by the Bolivarian Republic.
ConocoPhillips sought enforcement of this award in multiple countries, including Guyana, where they appeared before Justice Gino Persaud.
However, Nandlall argues that recognizing the ruling could exacerbate tensions between Guyana and Venezuela, as both nations await a decision from the International Court of Justice on their border dispute.
He emphasized that Guyana’s stance is aligned with public policy concerns related to the territorial conflict.
The government plans to appeal the High Court’s decision, underscoring the complexity of the issue and its implications for international arbitration.