President David Granger yesterday said that Guyana is prepared to prove its border case against Venezuela at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, according to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency.
He welcomed the decision by United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon to identify a deadline to the Good Offices process for the resolution of the controversy. Stating that Guyana has worked hard to bring an end to the claim on its territory, the President said Guyana is ready to prove its case in the ICJ – also known as the World Court – at the end of 2017, should the Good Offices process “maintain the current stalemate”.
Granger, also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces was at the time addressing officers and ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at the Base Camp Ayanganna’s Annual Christmas Lunch.
“Last Friday, for the first time in 51 years, the Secretary-General has decided that that 51-year-old claim by Venezuela will go to the world court at the end of 2017 if the two countries Guyana and Venezuela do not agree to make some other arrangements. Well we have already decided that we have already waited 51 years too long. It is our territory and we will go to court to prove that it is our territory and you are there to back me up aren’t you?” the President said to loud cheers and shouts of “yes” from the members of the Force, the release said.
The President noted that the country has put in significant effort to place the border controversy at the top of the international agenda, lobbying the UN Secretary General and gaining support from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Commonwealth and other nations.
“We worked hard for it. We engaged the Secretary General since last year and it was always our intention that it is the Secretary-General’s responsibility to make a decision about the way the controversy would be dealt with and he has made that decision and so in that regard, I am satisfied that the Secretary-General has discharged his responsibility to the Geneva Agreement of 1966”, the President said.
The President expressed gratitude to the servicemen for their commitment and dedication, during the past year, stating that Guyana would not have been where it is had it not been for the Force.
Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier George Lewis said that the GDF has enjoyed an “excellent” year, in which its successes were more than its challenges and, therefore, looks forward to an even better year in 2017.
