Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Venezuela’s military actions and territorial claims for Guyana’s Essequibo region have slowed investment and threatened development, as oral hearings opened on May 4 in The Hague.
“Guyana has suffered, and continues to suffer, from Venezuela’s unlawful claim and threats over most of our territory. This has been a blight on our existence as a sovereign state. From the very beginning, it has posed a threat to peace and security, made worse in recent years by Venezuela’s military activities, including new bases, airfields, and the deployment of aircraft, heavy weapons, and troops near the border,” the Minister said.
He warned that increased activity which had been at times observed along the border has heightened tensions and is affecting Guyana’s economy.
“Economic development has also been slowed by Venezuela’s claims and threats. Foreign investors, in particular, have been reluctant to risk their capital under these conditions, resulting in far less investment for Guyana,” Todd added.
The hearings, which run until May 11 at the Peace Palace, address the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award that set the land boundary with Venezuela. Proceedings are being carried live by the World Court.
Todd, leading Guyana’s delegation, described the case as central to the country’s future. He told the Court it concerns “title to territory, almost 116,000 square kilometers of territory,” which was settled through a legal process culminating in the 1899 award.
Minister Todd noted that Venezuela accepted the boundary for decades after it was established, and Guyana maintains that the ruling remains legally binding.
The Minister also pointed to recent actions by Venezuela, including a 2023 referendum and legislative steps asserting control over the Essequibo region, despite orders issued by the Court which stemmed from its early rulings in the case.
“We know that these rulings were based on the court’s faithful application of international law in nothing more and nothing less, but we are grateful, nonetheless… Venezuela is obligated, under international law, to accept and respect that border and to refrain from any activities that infringe on the territory across that border, which constitutes Guyana’s sovereign territory,” he said.
The ICJ, the United Nations’ top judicial body, is expected to deliver a binding decision on the controversy, which has intensified in recent years amid rising economic stakes tied to large quantities of oil and gas discovered by ExxonMobil offshore Guyana and Venezuela’s troubles.
