By Josiah Williams
The Guyana Government has expressed deep concern over Venezuela’s violation of the principles and good faith discussions regarding the demarcation of the Essequibo territory.
In a recent move, Venezuela passed a law demarcating Essequibo as its own territory, disregarding previous agreements such as the Argyle Declaration.
According to reports from Reuters, the Venezuelan National Assembly unanimously voted to create a new state and officially include Essequibo in their maps.
Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, condemned this action, stating that it blatantly violates principles of democracy, international law, and previous agreements.
In an interview, Minister Benn emphasized Guyana’s commitment to peaceful resolution through legal channels.
He reiterated Guyana’s stance that the matter will be handled through the International Court of Justice (ICJ), expressing confidence that Guyana’s position will be vindicated.
Despite tensions between the two countries, a commitment was made in December to refrain from using force or escalating tensions.
Minister Benn reiterated Guyana’s commitment to this agreement, emphasizing the importance of pursuing legal avenues for resolution.
The law passed by Venezuela’s National Assembly will come into force pending approval by the country’s highest court and publication in the official gazette.