PPP/C vows to defend Guyana’s sovereignty in border controversy case

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is not prepared to settle the controversy by way of bilateral talks over the border controversy with Venezuela. This is the position of the party’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, Brigadier Mark Phillips. The recently concluded National Recount of votes shows that the PPP/C has won the elections by in excess of 15,000 votes, and it was on this premise of victory that Phillips addressed the party’s way forward on several matters of national importance.

During an appearance on a radio talk show moderated by Dr Yog Mahadeo, Phillips was asked whether or not the PPP/C is willing to settle the controversy as it pertains to the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between the then-British Guiana and Venezuela, outside of the ICJ.
“Anything pertaining to the sovereignty, pertaining to security and the defence of Guyana is deemed a bipartisan issue…It is so respected as a bipartisan issue. The PPP/C is fully onboard and fully in support of the continuation of the case before the international court,” Phillips stated.

He also emphasised the importance of maintaining a united front as a country as the case, which is scheduled to be heard on June 30, moves forward. Phillips posited, “what is important for us is as Sir Shridath Ramphal said, we have a case coming up and we cannot appear to be divided as we seek to have a final judgement on this case pertaining to Guyana’s sovereignty.” He further stressed, “It is very important that we remain united and the PPP/C will continue to support the case as it was placed before the court.”

The Prime Ministerial Candidate iterated that the PPP/C will in no way do anything that could possibly sabotage Guyana’s position. “Yes, we will have a change in Government and hopefully before the 30th of June, the next hearing on the 30th of June, we will have a new President and it will continue, because it is a case that has a lot of importance to the sovereignty of Guyana, and we will not violate or negatively affect the sovereignty of Guyana with our policies,” he continued.

The case was originally scheduled to begin on March 23 last; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions, it was postponed to the new June date. The case was filed by Guyana two years ago, on March 29, 2018. The case seeks a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award, that established the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela, awarded the Essequibo region to Guyana. After continuous negotiation attempts, Guyana failed to settle the matter with its Spanish-speaking neighbours and the matter was taken before the World Court. It was in January 2018 that United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, in January 2018 took the decision that the dispute ought to be settled before the ICJ, but the Bolivarian Republic in response contended that the Secretary General exceeded his authority under the Geneva Agreement and that the ICJ lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate on the case. The jurisdiction case comes up for hearing on June 30.