Commonwealth Secretary-General ‘deeply concerned’ about Venezuela’s latest claim to Guyana’s territory

…says Commonwealth unequivocally support Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; calls for respect of ICJ process

Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, QC on Thursday said she is “deeply concerned by the promulgation of a decree by Venezuela that it has sovereignty over the area adjacent to Guyana’s Essequibo coast, and other recent statements by that country regarding its border controversy with Guyana”.

Venezuelan President, Nicholas Maduro had made a decree on January 7, 2021 claiming exclusive sovereign rights in the waters and seabed adjacent to Guyana’s coast, west of the Essequibo River.

In a statement, the Secretary-General reiterated the “Commonwealth’s unequivocal support for the maintenance and safeguarding of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

At the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Commonwealth Heads expressed their full support for the International Court of Justice as the means to be used for the settlement of the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.
The statement said that at the most recent meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana was held on October 12, 2020, the Group “welcomed the commencement of the International Court of Justice’s proceedings” and “encouraged both parties in the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela to participate in the International Court of Justice process”.

In this regard, Scotland urged that the process now under way at the International Court of Justice be respected.
“The entire Commonwealth family stands in solidarity with the people and Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and in support of a legally binding and peaceful resolution of this controversy.”