Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, claims that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) can step in since Venezuela’s plan to establish a new state in the Essequibo area of Guyana contravenes rulings from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Venezuelan government, led by Nicolas Maduro, enacted a new “Organic Law for the Defense of Guyana Essequibo” on April 3. Guyana interprets this as a sign of Venezuela’s most recent attempts to annex the Essequibo area.
- Advertisement -
Furthermore, Guyana believes this move goes against the World Court’s December judgments. The World Court decided that Venezuela was not allowed to speak out for the Essequibo region of Guyana.
At this point, President Dr. Irfaan Ali asked for a Security Council meeting to talk about Venezuela’s violations and the necessary responses.
On the afternoon of April 9th, a secret meeting was called under the “threats to international peace and security” Agenda item after President Ali’s April 5 letter to the Council included Guyana’s request for the meeting.
Venezuela was anticipated to attend the meeting following rule 37 of the Council’s interim rules of procedure, as stated by the Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas Miroslav Jenča.
The Attorney General stated that Guyana anticipates the support of the Council, of which it will be a member as of January 2024, but there has been no formal word on the meeting’s decision.
“We are hoping that positive actions will arise from the UNSC’s consideration of the matter.”
During his weekly “Issues in the News” broadcast, Nandlall clarified, “That law and the actions taken by Venezuela in enacting by Venezuela violate the interim measures granted by the ICJ last year, and it is the UNSC that has the mandate of ensuring compliance with orders issued by the ICJ.”
Keeping the globe safe and secure is the responsibility of the Security Council, one of the six main UN bodies. There are 10 non-permanent members of the organization that serve two-year terms in addition to the five permanent members of the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom.
Currently holding a two-year term on the council is Guyana.
Nandlall was eager to emphasize that Venezuela’s behavior has received and will continue to receive strong criticism, independent of any potential UNSC steps.
According to him, nations, and organizations throughout consider Venezuela’s actions to be a “strike at the heart of international law, global peace and stability” rather than only being an insult to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Although the boundaries between the two nations as they currently exist were determined by the 1899 Arbitral Award, the Spanish-speaking country still claims the Essequibo area, which makes up about two-thirds of Guyana’s land.
Even though the International Court of Justice is considering a case involving a border dispute and despite pledges made in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to desist from taking any actions that could jeopardize regional peace and security, Venezuela has been stepping up its claims and aggressions by attempting to annex Guyana’s territory.
