GUYANA SEEKS MEASURES FROM THE ICJ TO BLOCK VENEZUELA

Venezuela’s most recent belligerent act, the unprovoked and aggressive intrusion into Guyana’s maritime space, attracted widespread condemnation, including from the United States.  This atrocity is certainly intended to intimidate Guyana and to escalate tensions. It may also well be that with a US company, Exxon, with partners, engaged in extracting oil from within Guyana’s EEZ, […]

VENEZUELA HAS ONLY A NODDING ACQUAINTANCE WITH RATIONALITY

In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on September 20, President Irfaan Ali referred to a “very threatening message from Venezuela” in the form of a Communique attacking Guyana for advertising oil blocks in Guyana’s sovereign waters. The Venezuelan Government responded that: “The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will always assert its legitimate rights […]

VENEZUELA’S THREATS ATTRACTS INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION

International condemnation greeted Venezuela’s statement of 19 September rejecting the “illegal bidding” for oil blocks carried out by the Government of Guyana. The statement claims that Guyana does not have sovereign rights over the maritime areas in international law and demarcation must be carried out in agreement with Venezuela. The statement goes on to warn […]

VENEZUELA’S PRELIMINARY OBJECTION IS “TOTALLY HOPELESS.”

Although Venezuela’s official position is that it is not participating in the case before the ICJ relating to the controversy arising from the claim that the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 is null and void, it seeks every opportunity to intervene. Venezuela now makes a preliminary objection to the effect that the Court lacks […]

VENEZUELA ESCALATES THREAT TO GUYANA

Triggered by the decision of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) on December 18, 2020, upholding the Court’s jurisdiction to determine the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award establishing and defining the border between Venezuela and British Guiana, Venezuela has predictably escalated its threat to Guyana’s sovereignty. The Secretary General of the United Nations, under […]