Topic: 2024-The Situation in Guyana
Country: Peru
Delegate Name: Joseph Cox
Country: Peru
Committee: SPECPOL
Topic: Situation in Guyana
Delegate: Joey Cox
School: Williamston High School
The region of Essequibo in the western half of Guyana has long been disputed between Guyana and Venezuela. Recently Venezuela has held a referendum to annex the Essequibo region with 96.13% of voters in Venezuela voting in favor of the annexation. The Essequibo region of Guyana comprises two thirds of Guyana’s total land area and contains 15% of Guyana’s population. The dispute stretches back to a dispute between the British colony of Guyana and Venezuela. It was solved through US intervention and in 1899, an arbitration determined that Guyana owned the region. In 1966 when Guyana gained independence the border was further cemented as what it is today. Recently when oil reserves were found off the coast of the region Venezuela’s interest in the region dramatically increased. The Venezuelan annexation has not yet resulted in armed conflict but there is not a planned solution and tensions are very high.
Peru has urged for a peaceful resolution to the conflict hoping to de-escalate tensions in the region. Peru has issued official statements supporting Guyanas territorial claims and has stated that the International Court of Justice should play an important role in resolving the conflict. The ICJ ruled that Venezuela should not take any action to disrupt the current territorial boundaries. Peru has had border disputes with its neighbors and has found that a peaceful diplomatic resolution is by far the best for both parties. Peru supported Guyana’s position in the Organization of American States general assembly in 2018. Peru strongly opposes the Maduro administration and is a member of the Lima Group that is opposed to the dictatorship in Venezuela. Peru signed the 1966 Geneva agreement and still backs the framework it provided to solve any disputes through peaceful negotiations and arbitration.
Perus plan toward resolving the dispute in Essequibo is to come to an agreement between Venezuela and Guyana through peaceful diplomatic negotiations. It is of the utmost importance that the negotiations stay peaceful so as to not cause instability in the greater region of South America. Peru strongly supports the ICJ ruling and is of the opinion that Guyana should keep their claims to Essequibo. Venezuela is simply reigniting an issue that was solved over 100 years ago. Guyana should be able to keep its claim to a territory that it has legally held for a century. Peru pledges to support the endeavors of Guyana to keep their claim to the Essequibo region and its rights to the oil reserves off the coast. Peru aims to support a fair and peaceful agreement between the two nations that upholds the sovereignty of Guyana and their right to the Essequibo region.
