(Jamaica Gleaner) The Government of Jamaica has welcomed yesterday’s unanimous ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) barring Venezuela from altering Guyana’s control over the disputed Essequibo region.
In a statement in support of the ruling on the 1899 Arbitral Award, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamina Johnson Smith said “the Court’s order strongly supports the position of Guyana, which is shared by Jamaica.”
She also noted that the Court has said that Venezuela should “refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Cooperative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area.”
She argued that this would have direct implications for the planned holding of a referendum by Venezuela on December 3.
“The Government of Jamaica remains firmly committed to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Jamaica fully supports the work of the ICJ and its ability to deliver justice where there is breach of the United Nations’ founding principles, in an impartial, transparent and independent manner. In this regard, Guyana can continue to count on Jamaica’s support of the CARICOM position in defence of its sovereign rights and territorial integrity,” Johnson Smith said.
