Guyana sets extraordinary sitting of National Assembly on border issue

Guyana’s National Assembly will meet on Friday morning for an ‘extraordinary’ sitting, to consider a motion in relation to the ongoing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

This was disclosed on Friday by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs.

The Parliamentary sitting comes on the heels of a meeting between President Irfaan Ali, and Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton. The two sides have agreed on a united front in relation to the border controversy.

On Wednesday, the National Assembly’s Committee on Foreign Relations agreed to the framework for the motion on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy, which will be tabled this week.

Among other things, the motion will seek to increase public awareness on the controversy and have continuous education about the historical and current facts surrounding Venezuela’s claim.

Venezuela’s planned referendum and its approved questions for the referendum later this year have set off a wave of criticisms, with the Guyana government accusing Venezuela of trying to annex parts of the country’s territory in contravention with international law.

CARICOM and the Organisation of American States (OAS) have also rejected the referendum stating that international law strictly prohibits the Government of one State from unilaterally seizing, annexing or incorporating the territory of another state and noted that the referendum will open the door to the possible violation of this fundamental tenet of international law.