Guyana to add Venezuela’s incursion to litany of aggression

Guyana’s Agent to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Carl Greenidge, has confirmed the country’s intention to add Venezuela’s latest act of aggression to the existing litany of actions by the Bolivarian Republic to encroach on Guyana’s land and maritime spaces.

Greenidge told Ignite News today that Guyana has been “routinely” reporting and updating relevant international agencies on Venezuela’s affront to Guyana’s territory and will be adding the country’s latest display in the Stabroek Block to the long list of unsavoury behaviour exhibited under the Nicolás Maduro administration.

“The actions by Venezuela in relation to the Cuyuni and the Exclusive Economic Zone have been the subject of notes to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) for the purpose of informing the UN Security Council, and, if necessary, the General Assembly,” Greenidge stated.

He explained that a list of specific incidents is kept and shared with the UN Secretary-General for whatever action it may determine and also for what it means to bilateral and multilateral agencies.

In relation to the ICJ, Greenidge said that the Guyana team has been using the process provided to highlight any inconsistencies by its Latin neighbour. There is an ICJ process which Guyana “can and will” use to register this latest aggression, he noted.

Greenidge’s primary task is to lead the team of expert lawyers, diplomats, historians, and others in their preparation of the material and strategy used in Guyana’s case against Venezuela before the ICJ.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is expected to submit a counter-memorial when the International Court meets later this year. Greenidge noted that Guyana has provided its final written brief on the border controversy, and now Venezuela is expected to give its rebuttal sometime in August.

In its recent protest to Venezuela, Guyana condemned the country’s public announcement to hold elections in Guyana’s Essequibo region, where Venezuela said it is electing a governor and legislative council for the location, which it claimed to have “annexed” last year.

Guyana also rejects Venezuela’s increased deployment of armoured personnel carriers, battle tanks, and patrol boats to Ankoko Island, where Guyana’s eastern portion of land has been seized by Venezuela since 1966.

Additionally, the construction of a bridge connecting the Venezuelan mainland to Guyana’s part of Ankoko Island has been rejected. The Guyana Government is concerned that the completion of this bridge in December 2024 significantly bolstered Venezuela’s military capabilities, enhancing their offensive strategies.