‘We’re not sitting back’ – President says borders actively monitored, foreign partners updated on Venezuela situation 

Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Monday, assured Guyanese that the country’s borders are being monitored and all foreign partners are consistently updated on the developments with neighbouring Venezuela.

Venezuela had announced that it intends to hold elections in the Essequibo region, an area internationally recognised as Guyana’s territory and has been under Guyana’s administration for over 100 years. So the Venezuelan election plan, scheduled for May 25, 2025, is seen by Guyana as a direct violation of the Court’s Order and international law.

Earlier this month, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) unanimously reaffirmed provisional measures granted in December 2023 and told Venezuela that it shall refrain from conducting, or preparing to conduct, elections in the Essequibo region.

President Ali acknowledged this ruling from the ICJ and affirmed that Guyana is a “rules-based” state committed to international law.

However, he said, Guyana’s borders are being monitored and the government is engaging foreign partners on the developments concerning the ongoing controversy.

“We are not sitting back also.

“I want to assure you and all Guyanese that the Guyana Defence Force, the government, and every stakeholder, we are putting everything in place to ensure that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana are protected,” President Ali told reporters at the sidelines of an event on Monday.

He also assured citizens that Guyana’s sovereign space will be protected.

The border controversy between Guyana and Essequibo is decades-old. The boundary, as internationally recognised, was settled in 1899 through an Arbitral Award. It was accepted by Venezuela and Guyana (then British Guiana) until the 1960s as Guyana approached its independence. Guyana has taken its case to the ICJ, hoping for a final, binding settlement of the controversy.