GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC)—The Guyana government on Friday said it remains confident of securing victory at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding its border dispute with Venezuela.

In a statement issued ahead of Monday’s public hearings by the Hague-based court, Georgetown said that it is approaching the hearings “with full confidence in the strength of its case, which is supported by the historical record and the applicable legal principles relating to the binding nature of arbitral awards, the sanctity of treaties, the respect for the rule of law and the stability of boundaries”.

The ICJ is set to begin oral hearings on May 4, with Guyana’s Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, saying that hearings are scheduled for May 4-8, and may extend into the following week.

Guyana brought the case before the ICJ in 2018, seeking affirmation that the 1899 Arbitral Award, establishing the boundary between the two countries, is legally valid. The award had been accepted for over 60 years before Venezuela declared it null in 1962 and revived its claim to the territory.

The matter is being addressed under the 1966 Geneva Agreement, which outlines mechanisms for a peaceful settlement. After bilateral efforts failed, the dispute was referred to the ICJ by the United Nations Secretary-General.

The court has already ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the case, paving the way for hearings on the merits, during which both sides will present full legal arguments.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that the ICJ has twice affirmed its jurisdiction in this matter, in judgements issued on December 18, 2020 and April 6 2023.

“The court has issued two Orders, both indicating provisional measures, which Guyana had requested, to prevent Venezuela from interfering with Guyana’s lawful control and administration of the territory that is the subject of the controversy while the judicial proceedings are still pending.

“Guyana approaches these hearings with full confidence in the strength of its case, which is supported by the historical record and the applicable legal principles relating to the binding nature of arbitral awards, the sanctity of treaties, the respect for the rule of law and the stability of boundaries,” the government said in its statement.

Earlier this week, Venezuela brushed aside concerns raised by Guyana and the wider Caribbean Community (Caricom) over a brooch that Acting President Delcy Rodriquez wore when she held talks with Barbados and Grenada leaders earlier this month.

The 15-member Caricom grouping said Tuesday it had taken note of recent official engagements within the Community during which material asserting Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region had been on public display.

Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali, had earlier expressed his “grave concern” over the public display of the brooch worn by Rodriquez, showing her country’s map that includes Guyana’s Essequibo Region as she held talks with two Caricom leaders this month.

But as she addressed an anti-sanctions rally at the Municipal Theatre of Valencia in the Venezuelan state of Carabobo, Rodriquez said that Caracas will continue to uphold its claim to the ownership of the disputed Essequibo region in Guyana.

“We will soon be at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the coming days to reaffirm our historic position, which is international law and respect for the Geneva Agreement. It is outrageous when Venezuela is attacked, and that is why we are undertaking this entire process of spiritual revitalisation for the good of our nation,” she said.

“You know that the president of Guyana is now causing a scandal because I always wear the pin with the map of Venezuela. The only map I have ever known. Now they are even bothered by how I dress.”