‘We’ll not relent or bend to threats’

…President Ali assures in national address
….demands the safe return of Guyanese fishermen held in Venezuela

By Svetlana Marshall

President Irfaan Ali, in an address to the nation on Saturday, made it clear that Guyana will not bend to threats from Venezuela even as he demanded the safe return of the Guyanese fishermen, who have been detained by the Nicolas Maduro government over a week now.

“My Government is doing all in its power to vigorously protect our people’s health and our country’s territorial integrity. Just as we will not relent in the battle against COVID-19, so we will not bend to threats to our national security,” the Head of State said in the address broadcast live on his official Facebook page.

It has been close to two weeks now since the approximately 12 Guyanese fishermen have been detained by the Bolivarian National Navy. The illegal detention took place on January 21 when the Venezuelan Naval Vessel Commandante Hugo Chavez GC 24, unlawfully intercepted two Guyanese registered fishing vessels – the Lady Nayera and the Sea Wolf – which were operating off the coast of Waini Point within Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“This incursion by Venezuelan armed forces into Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and its arrest and detention of the crews of Guyanese fishing boats is a flagrant violation of international law and the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of Guyana over its maritime spaces. The crews and the fishing vessels are still being detained by the Venezuelan military at Port Guiria in Venezuela, despite Guyana’s formal protest to the Venezuelan authorities through diplomatic channels,” the Head of State said.
President Ali said Guyana is made to confront renewed aggression from Venezuela, even as it seeks peaceful and legal means to end the Spanish speaking country’s disregard for the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the land boundaries between the two countries.

“In doing so, we will seek the protection of international law and the support of the international community,” President Ali said.
The illegal detention of the Guyanese fishermen followed a decree made by President Maduro, on January 7, in which he purported to establish a new maritime territory of Venezuela called the “Territory for the development of the Atlantic Façade,” and claimed, for Venezuela, “sovereignty and exclusive sovereign rights in the waters and seabed adjacent to Guyana’s coast, west of the Essequibo River.”

President Ali said Guyana remains resolute in its position that it will accept no such decree. Through diplomatic channels, the country has moved to advise its sister states in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the international community, including the Organization of American States – the OAS, the Commonwealth and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States on Venezuela’s posture and disregard for international law.

The Regional and International Communities have come out in full and continued support for Guyana, with CARICOM, on January 12, rejecting any and all acts of aggression by Venezuela against Guyana. In doing so, it reiterated its “firm and unswerving support for the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana”.

Other nations, including the United States of America and Canada, also indicated their concern about this further threat to Guyana. “We have friends. We are not alone. We have the international community behind us,” President Ali assured the nation.

President Ali drew attention to the fact that President Maduro issued the decree, even as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) pronounced that it has jurisdiction to hear and decide upon a case brought by Guyana in refutation of Venezuela’s contention over the 1899 International Arbitration that fixed the borders in a “full, perfect and final settlement”.

The Head of State also disclosed that on Friday night, he received a letter from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, in which he reaffirmed on January 30th, 2018 he chose the ICJ as the means “to be used for the solution of the controversy” as he was empowered to do under an agreement signed in Geneva by all parties in 1966.

According to the President, the Secretary-General acknowledged that the Court is proceeding to adjudicate on the merits of the case.  While noting that the bilateral relationship between Guyana and Venezuela “is broader than the controversy,” the Secretary-General reportedly said should both the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela wish to avail themselves of his good offices role “to address other important issues”, he remains available for that purpose.

However, President Ali said “Guyana is fully committed to the ICJ process.”

“We believe international law and independent international jurists of the highest calibre offer the most credible and definitive way in which to put an end to the Venezuelan contention.  Therefore, we will continue to pursue that course. At the same time, Guyana is not averse to engaging Venezuela on bilateral matters in which we have a common interest. These would include dealing with the increasing number of Venezuelans now seeking refuge in Guyana, as well as how we might collaborate, as neighbouring states, in confronting the COVID-19 pandemic which has spared neither of our two countries,” the President further explained.

The Head of State said such discussions while welcomed, will have to be preceded by a clear demonstration by Venezuela that it will desist from any further acts of aggression against Guyana, starting with the release of the Guyanese fishermen and their vessels.