Accusing the United Kingdom of being a “land grabber”, Venezuela yesterday made preliminary objections to Guyana’s application before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to have the 1899 Arbitral Agreement settling the boundary between the two countries confirmed as valid and binding.
Appearing before the court in the Hague, the Netherlands, Venezuela’s Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said Caracas was not disputing the jurisdiction of the ICJ to adjudicate the border controversy between itself and Guyana but instead has an issue with the claim being brought before the Court by Georgetown which it argues is in the first place not the proper party to even bring such a claim before the Court.
Contending that Guyana has no standing in the matter which does not concern it, Venezuela says it is the United Kingdom (UK) instead which it calls a “land grabber,” and accuses of “fraud” and a “cover-up” in the Arbitral Award of 3rd October 1899 by which the territory was “given” to Guyana.
