Former Foreign Minister of Guyana, Carl Greenidge, has expressed optimism that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the longstanding border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela could be delivered by 2026.
Greenidge, who is also an agent for Guyana at the ICJ and a respected diplomat, appeared on the Guyana Business Journal & Magazine’s webinar on January 8, 2025. He provided an update on the status of the case, which was referred to the ICJ in 2018 after decades of failed negotiations between the two countries.
“The court has so far confirmed that the matter was referred to it and that it has the competence to examine the substantive issue, which is whether the 1899 Arbitral Award that defined the border was valid or not,” Greenidge stated.
He explained that Guyana had filed its initial pleadings, and Venezuela had submitted a counter-memorial, which Guyana has refuted as containing “a lot of inaccuracies and complete and outrageous fabrications.”
“The court now will hear Venezuela’s response to our refutation, and that is to be presented by August 2025. After that, the court may have a couple of questions to ask of the two parties, and then it will be in a position to make a decision,” Greenidge said.
Greenidge expressed confidence that the ICJ process should not take beyond 2026, barring unexpected delays or diversions from Venezuela.
“Short of Venezuela’s generation of new diversions, the court ought to be in a position to make a decision,” Greenidge stated, pointing to the importance of the ruling for Guyana’s economic development and sovereignty.
The border controversy dates back to the 19th century and has been a source of tension between the two neighboring countries. Guyana has maintained that the 1899 arbitral award, which established the current border, is valid.
The Court had last issued provisional measures in December 2023, forbidding Venezuela from actions that would compromise Guyana’s administration and control of the Essequibo territory, pending the case’s outcome.
Despite this, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro signed the ‘Organic Law for the Defense of Guayana Esequiba’ on April 3, 2024. The new law purports to incorporate Guyana’s Essequibo region into Venezuela. Guyana has put the international community on notice.
On January 7, 2025, President Maduro announced his intention to hold an election for the “Governor of the Guayana Esequiba” by “the people of Guayana Esequiba.” However, Guyana’s government has stated that this is a clear violation of the Argyle Agreement – an agreement the two countries signed in December 2023 to keep the peace.
Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said it would be a flagrant violation of fundamental principles of international law for Venezuela to try to conduct an election in Guyanese territory with the participation of Guyanese nationals.
