DAY ONE: ICJ BEGINS ORAL HEARINGS IN LONG-STANDING GUYANA/VENEZUELA BORDER CONTROVERSY [PART 2]

Guyana, on May 04, opened its case at the International Court of Justice, defending its sovereignty over the Essequibo region in the long-running border dispute with Venezuela. At hearings in The Hague, Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd lead Guyana’s presentation. Guyana told the court the 1899 Arbitral Award, which fixed the boundary, remains legally valid and binding. On the first day, lawyers challenged Venezuela’s attempt to block the case, arguing the court has already confirmed it has jurisdiction. They also defended the 1897 treaty that led to arbitration, saying Venezuela itself pushed for the process and accepted the outcome for decades. Guyana also outlined the national importance of the Essequibo, which makes up more than two-thirds of the country’s territory. The hearings continue through May 11, with a final ruling expected at a later date.