GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — The Guyana Government Monday said it has taken note of the decision by Venezuela to make a submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the ownership of the Essequibo, an oil-rich region that makes up about two-thirds of Guyana and is home to 125,000 of its 800,000 citizens.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Georgetown has noted that the South American country had “made a submission today to the International Court of Justice, in keeping with the court’s stipulated timeline for the receipt of Venezuela’s counter memorial on the merits of the case concerning the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, which is pending before it.

“This case, which was filed by Guyana in March 2018, seeks the court’s decision on the validity of the arbitral award which finally determined the land boundary between the two countries. The court has already ruled that it has jurisdiction over the controversy and will decide the issue on the merits,” the ministry said in its statement.

It said Guyana has repeatedly called on Venezuela to participate fully in the judicial proceedings and comply with the court’s rulings, “and therefore welcomes Venezuela’s submissions on the substantive issues that the court will ultimately decide.

“Guyana notes that Caricom (Caribbean Community), and the Commonwealth, and other members of the international community have also been urging Venezuela to participate in the proceedings before the ICJ.

“Guyana considers that it is beneficial to the court to have before it the submissions of both parties on the validity of the 1899 arbitral award and the settlement of the international boundary.”

Guyana, which made its submissions in April last year, said “with the submissions of both states before it the court will be able to take all arguments and evidence into account and issue a more informed judgement, which will be final and binding on the parties.

“Guyana has consistently pledged to abide by the court’s judgement,” it added.

Last Wednesday, President Nicolas Maduro, campaigning for the upcoming presidential election in Venezuela, alleged that the US has set up secret military bases in Essequibo, calling them an “aggression” and saying they were built to prepare for an escalation against Venezuela.

“We have information indicating that in the territory of Guyana Essequibo, temporarily administered by Guyana, secret military bases of the US Southern Command, an agency of the CIA, have been installed,” Maduro said.

He also claimed that Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, “does not govern Guyana” and that “Guyana is controlled by the Southern Command, the CIA, and ExxonMobil”.

Both Washington and Georgetown have dismissed Maduro’s claim.

Last December, Caracas claimed that more than half of eligible Venezuelan voters had taken part in a referendum that yielded overwhelming support for laying claim to the Essequibo.

National Electoral Council President Elvis Amoroso said more than 10.4 million out of 20.7 million eligible voters had cast their ballots.

The referendum came after the ICJ warned Caracas against “annexation” of the Essequibo region.