125 Years Strong: Guyana Upholds the 1899 Award and International Agreements in Territorial Integrity

As Guyana marks the 125th anniversary of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which delineated the boundary between Venezuela and British Guiana, the PPP/C Government reiterates its strong commitment to international law and the enduring authority of prior agreements.

In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guyana reaffirmed its dedication to both the rule of law and the framework established by the United Nations Secretary-General and the 1966 Geneva Agreement for resolving territorial disputes.

The 1899 Award, which Venezuela recognized for more than six decades, was long regarded as a “full, perfect, and final” resolution of the boundary issue. Venezuela actively participated in the joint demarcation and codified the boundary in its domestic laws. However, in 1962, on the cusp of British Guiana’s independence, Venezuela began contesting the Award, laying claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region, thus igniting a territorial dispute that persists to this day.

President Irfaan Ali 

Guyana, remaining steadfast in its belief in the legitimacy of the 1899 Award, turned to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a peaceful settlement. The ICJ, in 2020 and 2023, affirmed its jurisdiction over the case and is now moving forward with resolving the controversy.

The Government of Guyana expresses confidence in a peaceful resolution through the ICJ, stressing its commitment to international law and the principle of pacta sunt servanda—that agreements must be honored.