Dear Editor,
Reference is made to “Patriotism and Geneva” (Nov 19). I endorse your view that it would be a tragic mistake for Guyana to engage Venezuela in bilateral talks to resolve the border dispute. The present government has made it clear that it respects and has subjected itself to the World Court, ICJ to resolve the 1899 Arbitration Award. International law and past legal precedents are on the side of Guyana, suggesting a ruling in our favour. The ICJ has no other verdict than to uphold the 1899 Arbitration award. Venezuela has not provided credible reasons why the award should not be upheld. Almost every nation has sided with Guyana. Why then would any Guyanese patriot or nationalist theorize on other verdicts and bring in extraneous matters unrelated to the case or that would impact on a ruling? The case before the ICJ has nothing to do with any past president or their actions or whether they sold out Guyana’s rights in order to gain or retain office. The matter before the court is whether international law is being followed by both sides in resolving a border conflict and which party the law favours.
Clearly, based on Venezuela’a response in pushing back against ICJ jurisdiction and its insistence that there be a bilateral resolution to the conflict suggests it lacks confidence that a ruling will be delivered in its favour. The odds favour Guyana and I will be surprised if the ICJ rules otherwise because the case was settled and there has not been any new evidence for the judges to reverse it. Forget what Hugo Chávez told then President Jagdeo about resolving the problem bilaterally; let the ICJ decide the outcome once and for all. Venezuela may not accept the ICJ ruling but world opinion will be on the side of Guyana. Now is not the time to attribute or apportion blame for the border predicament Guyana finds itself. Blaming Burnham for opportunistically agreeing to revisit or reopen the Arbitration Award will not provide a solution to the conflict. Politicians and commentators should redirect and refocus their energies on how to pressure Venezuela to accept the 1899 award and a new verdict that is expected to be handed very soon.
Sincerely,
Vishnu Bisram