Minister Croal tells hinterland residents during outreach on the Guyana / Venezuela border dispute
– ‘We have law and order, unity on our side’
Kaieteur News – Minister for Housing and Water, Hon. Collin Croal, on Monday, told Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, District One (Barima / Waini) residents, that they should not be afraid of the ongoing territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, as Guyana has ‘law and order on its side.’
Minister Collin Croal during the outreach.
Residents.
Minister Croal, who has geographic responsibility for Region One, led outreach on the Guyana / Venezuela border dispute to the two districts, which have several villages close to the border. The outreach is the first of a series to be conducted in the region, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It aims to sensitize frontline communities on the decades-old issue.
The villages of Kamwatta, White Water and Yarakita in the Mabaruma area, and Canal Bank, Eclipse Falls, Sebai and Citrus Grove in the Port Kaituma area are closer to the border that separates Guyana from its Spanish-speaking neighbor. Residents have called for greater security as the border remains porous.
But Minister Croal said villagers have nothing to fear, as Venezuela’s claims remain “a non-issue.” In addition, he says, Guyana is in his right and remains steadfast in the support he has been receiving.
“We have law and order and the international community on our side. We have the recognition that we are in the right and will continue a path that will mean we settle this issue legally, ”Minister Croal told Mabaruma residents.
He said Guyana was united in this regard, stating that “where there is unity, there is strength.”
“If there is anything that we all, on both sides of the political divide, we all agree on and have in common, that is that we have uniformity in our position and that is, Guyana belongs for us, citizens of Guyana. And so, we all on the different side of the political divide share that view.
When you have a united country on an issue, it sends a powerful message. We have one thing on our side, as well as the common understanding that the claims by Venezuela are just claims. ”
Croal noted that all Governments, including the PPP / C, have followed a path to bring finality to the border debate, “We believe that the assertion made by Venezuela is unfounded and infringes on our independence , our international democracy. . For us, we have a belief that the border is settled, so it’s not an issue. ”
Venezuela, since 1962, has argued that the 1899 Arbitration Award, which firmly settled the land border between the two countries, was void. The country continues to claim most of the Essequibo region.
Providing historical context to the debate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of Borders, Ms Donnette Streete, said Guyana was confident its case was justified. He said not only has Venezuela failed to present evidence to support its claims, but Guyana has remained peaceful, even in the face of aggressive behavior by the Bolivian Republic. He said, “international law will bring us out.”
On January 30, 2018, the UN Secretary General announced a decision choosing the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as the means by which to resolve the dispute. Following that decision, on March 29, 2018, Guyana filed its application initiating proceedings against Venezuela regarding the legal validity and binding effect of the October 3, 1899 Award, which determined the land border between British Guiana and Venezuela.
On December 18, 2020, the Court ruled that it had jurisdiction to entertain Guyana’s claim, while Venezuela issued a public communiqué indicating that it did not accept the Court’s jurisdiction. Guyana’s consistent position is that both countries, as Parties to the 1966 Geneva Treaty, have given the Secretary-General of the United Nations authority to choose the means by which to settle the dispute. The ICJ has set a deadline of March 8, 2022 for the submission of the Guyana Memorial on the merits of the case and March 8, 2023 for the submission of its Anti-Monument by Venezuela.