With the promulgation of the Organic Law for the Defense of Guayana Esequiba, on April 3, Venezuela legally consecrates its historical right over that territory, consolidates the defense of its territorial integrity and ratifies the Geneva Agreement of 1966, as the only instrument valid legal system for a practical and mutually acceptable solution to the controversy over Guayana Esequiba.
This new legal instrument, which consists of 39 articles, 6 chapters, 5 transitional provisions and 2 final, has as its fundamental objective “to establish the means and mechanisms aimed at the defense of the territory of Guyana Esequiba, currently usurped by the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. , as a result of the invalid Arbitration Award of 1899.”
This law has had a great impact both internally in the country and internationally. In this regard, the member of the Special Commission for the Defense of the Territory of Guayana Esequiba and Territorial Sovereignty of the National Assembly, deputy José Gregorio Vielma Mora, declared to Últimas Noticias that this law is of great significance, because for the first time in the history of Venezuela, legal norms related to economic, security and political aspects, among others, are established on the territory of Guayana Esequiba.
Likewise, he indicated that the State's policies in favor of the recovery of the aforementioned territory "have awakened the Venezuelan from a lethargy about the love of sovereignty and has also made him remember the true extension of Guayana Esequiba, since there was an inaccuracy in so many texts, and now we know that the surface of that territory is exactly 159.542 square kilometers, which also has an Atlantic Facade, and that creates greater awareness about our historical and territorial heritage,” he said.
It should be noted that article 10 of this law clearly establishes the limits of this territory. “The state of Guayana Esequiba will have the surface of the current territory of Guayana Esequiba, included within the following limits: North: Atlantic Ocean; South: Federative Republic of Brazil; East: Cooperative Republic of Guyana and to the West: Delta Amacuro and Bolívar states.”
About the economic
Regarding the economic impact that could be generated through strategies related to the development of Guayana Esequiba, Vielma Mora assured that she has studied this aspect in depth, highlighting that "not only is the issue of the continental shelf, the territorial sea, the gas that It is there, from oil; It is also the issue of the strength of the water value, the type of soils that are there, the forestry and timber issues, the different types of stone, sand; There are many things that we have analyzed, including the issue of carbon credits, which are financial instruments that represent the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. In other words, it is an emissions offset method that allows companies to reduce their carbon footprint by investing in mitigation projects.
The legislator emphasized that Guyana currently administers the resources of the region, however, "that does not give it any right over our territorial sovereignty, since what there is is an improper use of a territory with respect to what is established in the Agreement of Geneva of February 17, 1966, the parties must amicably agree to give a practical treatment to the differences between both States, however, they – Guyana – are making use of a territory that does not belong to them," he concluded. .
State of Guayana Esequiba
Another aspect worth highlighting about the Organic Law for the Defense of Guayana Esequiba is that in its chapter II, article 9, it establishes the creation of the new Venezuelan state: “The Guayana Esequiba state is created within the territorial political organization of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The state of Guayana Esequiba is a politically autonomous entity, with full legal personality and its own independent assets.”
In relation to that article, Roy Daza, deputy and member of the Permanent Commission on Foreign Policy, Sovereignty and Integration of the AN, declared to ÓN that “the creation of the State of Guayana is an absolutely well-founded demand on the part of the Venezuelan State, a product of a popular mandate in the December 2023 referendum – in which more than 10 million Venezuelans said Yes to the five questions established there – and the right that Venezuela has over Guayana Esequiba.”
Special plan
Another point to highlight about this law is that it establishes the obligation to design a special plan for the protection and development of the current and future population of the territory of Guayana Esequiba. Likewise, it establishes the formation of the High Commission of State of Guayana Esequiba whose mission is to advise and generate recommendations regarding public policies and measures for the recovery, defense and development of Essequibo.
Guyana wastes time
Regarding Guyana's position of wanting to settle the conflict through the International Court of Justice, Daza assured that “Guyana is unfortunately wasting time by going before the court, by seeking maneuvers. Everything will end in a bilateral negotiation, where the parties, Guyana and Venezuela, agree on the territorial controversy that exists based on the Geneva agreement. Spot. “That is the decision that is historically going to be made,” she said.
Regarding the benefits that the law would bring to the country, he stated that first of all the benefit would be territorial, as well as historical, because this claim is a right of all Venezuelans, but it also resolves an issue, the Geneva Agreement.
“Resolves that through diplomatic and peaceful means the dispute that is now a little over 100 years old should be put to an end. That is, we could give a demonstration to the world, both Guyana and Venezuela, that it is possible to settle through understanding, dialogue, diplomatic agreement,” he said.
Finally, it is worth highlighting that an agreement between both countries would benefit not only Venezuela, but also Guyana, which would contribute to consolidating commercial exchange and peace in the region.
Facts about the law
- Chapter I of such legislation is dedicated to its purpose as “preserving independence, freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Chapter II of the same deals with the creation of the Guayana Esequiba state as a politically autonomous entity, with full legal personality and its own independent assets.
- Chapter III of the law is dedicated to the creation and functions of the High Commission for the Defense of Guayana Esequiba.
- Chapter IV refers to the protection of the aforementioned territory.
- Chapters V and VI deal with access to information from Guayana Esequiba and sanctions for those who fail to comply with the law, respectively.
