L’admiration dont fait l’objet Henry Kissinger, qui fut tout autant un fin érudit qu’un brillant diplomate, ne doit pas nous empêcher de nous interroger sur sa légende, souligne Justin Vaïsse, spécialiste de la politique étrangère américaine, dans une tribune au « Monde ».L’admiration dont fait l’objet Henry Kissinger, qui fut tout autant un fin érudit qu’un brillant […]
Amélie Oudéa-Castéra a annoncé, vendredi, qu’elle allait proposer l’ex-capitaine de l’équipe de France de gymnastique pour succéder à Claude Onesta à la tête de l’Agence nationale du sport.Amélie Oudéa-Castéra a annoncé, vendredi, qu’elle allait proposer l’ex-capitaine de l’équipe de France de gymnastique pour succéder à Claude Onesta à la tête de l’Agence nationale du sport.
Blessé depuis janvier 2023, le joueur espagnol a déclaré, vendredi, qu’il participerait au tournoi de Brisbane, début janvier, avant l’Open d’Australie, pour lancer ce qui devrait être l’ultime saison de sa carrière.Blessé depuis janvier 2023, le joueur espagnol a déclaré, vendredi, qu’il participerait au tournoi de Brisbane, début janvier, avant l’Open d’Australie, pour lancer ce qui devrait […]
I sometimes chuckle when, as a part of greeting someone, the words “How are you?” are used. Not so much because I think it is funny, but because the question seems more one of social etiquette than genuine care. Think about the times you used those words and ask yourself, “Did I really want to know?” Chances are you did not, but the question seemed like a good filler at the time.
I think the same thing applies among believers when it comes to prayer. How many times have we committed to praying for someone and promptly forgotten to do so once we put the phone down or the person has left our presence? Did we really mean it? It is a tragedy of our times that we are so often occupied with our own lives that we can hardly make the time to invest in the spiritual well-being of another, especially to pray for them. How many times has someone crossed our minds without our giving any thought to whether or not that person needed to be prayed for at that moment? It could be that the Holy Spirit allowed that intrusion into our thoughts so we could intercede on that person’s behalf.
Praying for each other is an integral part of Christian fellowship. James reminds us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16, NIV). The apostle Paul assures Philemon, “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers” (Philemon 4). We need to remember, as someone once said, that “the power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in the God who is being prayed to.” Often, for God to act, He “needs” the cooperation of someone praying a prayer and making that request known (Phil. 4:6; Matt. 7:7-8). He most definitely listens to, answers, and moves in response to prayers.
Jesus spent much time in prayer, at one time praying, “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours” (John 17:9). If He found it necessary to pray for the disciples then, and seeing He continues to intercede for us (Romans 8:34), how much more are we to pray for each other? I challenge you to think about this the next time you commit to praying for someone or someone crosses your mind. You and I may be the link to another person’s breakthrough. May God grant us sensitive hearts and the conviction to be obedient to what the Holy Spirit has prompted us to do.
A sold-out crowd erupted into roars at Irish and Chin‘s “World Bash” in New York during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Billed as a victory for sound system culture by thousands of fans, emotions ran high at the musically charged event, which pinnacled with a touching, surprise sound system crowning of 9x World Clash General Pink Panther.
The legendary selector, Di General Pink Panther, was celebrated for his endless contributions to sound system, sound clash, reggae, and dancehall music and culture over his storied career. There wasn’t a dry eye in Amazura, as the influential Di General Pink Panther was praised by fellow members of the sound system fraternity and legions of fans.
Honoring a Jamaican Music Icon
An emotional Di General Pink Panther expressed gratitude while reflecting on dedicating 38 wonderful years of his life to sound business. The famed selector, who has been facing health challenges, declared boldly, “I am not going to die” before bussing the crowd in true Di General Pink Panther style. He charged into a bevy of hard-hitting anthems, which had the crowd bursting at the seams in excitement.
“My intent is to honor all who have given their lives to sound system culture,” says Garfield “Chin” Bourne of Irish and Chin. “As the premiere promoter in this space, I hold a unique and powerful position, which allows me to properly celebrate artists, selectors, sounds.”
“Sound systems are the least celebrated, despite their enormous impact. Sounds are the backbone of reggae and dancehall music and culture,” Bourne adds.
The historic “World Bash” was a sensational musical climax to Mighty Crown’s sound journey. The powerhouse line-up featured a who’s who of sounds, including Soul Supreme, Bass Odyssey, Killamanjaro, David Rodigan, Dynamq, Tony Matterhorn, Di General Pink Panther, LP International, Bodyguard, Metromedia and Mighty Crown.
Kingston-Born Music Man
Sound systems cultivated most of reggae and dancehall’s iconic artists, who in turn inspired generations of talent. It’s Di General Pink Panther’s time to be recognized for his pivotal role in the culture.
Di General Pink Panther’s work with Irish and Chin began more than 25 years ago, including a performance at their very first sound clash. The popular selector ultimately adapted the moniker 9x World Clash General from his countless victories in the landmark clashes.
Born Edward Johnson, Di General Pink Panther grew up in the Seaview Gardens and Grants Pen communities in Kingston, Jamaica, with a strong sound system upbringing. He rose to fame on Black Kat from Christiana, Manchester, Jamaica, solidifying his role as a historic sound killer.
The World Court on Friday ruled that Venezuela should not take any action to seize control of Guyana’s Essequibo region.
President Dr Irfaan Ali hailed the ruling and declared that Guyana’s borders will be secured and the country will come off victorious in its quest for a final, legally binding ruling at the court, which is officially known as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
Judge Joan E. Donoghue, President of the Court, read the Court’s Order. She said the provisional measures are binding and imposes a legal obligation for the court’s decision to be respected.
Question the legal validity and binding effect of the 1899 Award which settled the border of the two countries
Question the sovereignty over the territory between the Essequibo River, and the boundary established by the 1899 Award and the 1905 Agreement after the boundary line was drawn
Or seek to create the State of ‘Guayana Esequiba’, as it is doing, and any associated measures, including the granting of Venezuelan citizenship and national identity cards.
The ruling for provisional measures did not mention the referendum set for December 3, 2023, but it accepted Guyana’s argument that a real and imminent danger exists to the exercise of its sovereignty over the Essequibo region and hence its order for Venezuela not to take any action to modify the status quo, that is, Guyana’s exercise of its right over the region as handed down by the arbitral award.
The Court noted statements by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and others that it will not turn its back on the results of the referendum, which seeks to annex the Essequibo region.
And hence, the Court accepted Guyana’s arguments of the risk posed to its territory and ruled that Venezuela shall not take any actions that are intended to prepare or allow the exercise of sovereignty or de facto control over any territory that was awarded to British Guiana in the 1899 Arbitral Award.
Guyana had moved to the World Court to seek protection, saying that even before the Court rules on the central issue before it, namely the legality of the borderline drawn over a century ago, Venezuela was seeking to annex the Essequibo region. The region covers two thirds of Guyana which is prized for its rich rainforest and gold and diamond reserves.
Guyana believes the referendum is a rubberstamp for decisions already made by the highest officials of the Venezuelan government.
Guyana further argued that it risks irreparable harm or permanent loss of its territory if the referendum, in its present form, goes ahead and Venezuela takes action to annex the Essequibo region.
During hearings before the World Court two weeks ago, Paul Reichler, one of the most eminent lawyers with extensive experience litigating on behalf of Sovereign States, presented evidence to the Court in which Venezuela is preparing to take military action to enforce the outcome of its referendum.
He played a video of the Venezuelan military developing an airstrip it says it will use to “serve as a logistical support point for the integral development” of the Essequibo region.
With the Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez just a few feet away from him on the left, Mr Reichler told the Court that the referendum is no mere means by which Venezuela seeks to assess public opinion. Rather, he argued, the referendum is a “license” to act on decisions it has already made to assert and enforce its claim of two-thirds of Guyana’s territory – territory which it had ratified in law as being Guyanese after the borders were marked in 1905 following an arbitral award six years earlier.
In September 2015, Guyanese authorities also said the Venezuelan army was up the Cuyuni River, in the northwest of the country that borders Venezuela.
An agreement reached in Geneva on February 17, 1966, allowed for the United Nations Secretary-General to determine a resolution to the controversy, and dialogue and talks ensued for decades.
In mid-February 2017, the new UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Dag Halvor Nylander of Norway as his Personal Representative on the Border Controversy, in a final effort at dialogue to settle the matter. That failed.
On January 31, 2018, the UN Secretary-General referred the matter to the ICJ.
Upon that referral Guyana, in March 2018, moved to the court for a full and final settlement to Venezuela’s rejection of the arbitral award which settled the boundaries of the two countries 124 years ago. Venezuela has refused to recognise the right of the court to determine the case.
The first step was to establish jurisdiction, whether the court can rule on the case and it did so on April 6 this year. While boycotting much of the procedure, Venezuela tried to stop the case from moving forward by arguing the United Kingdom should be involved as Guyana was a British colony in 1899, but judges rejected that reasoning and said they had jurisdiction.
About 70,000 people have landed in Dubai for this year’s annual United Nations climate summit, COP28. Though various players have their own ambitions and interests to fight for, Guyana is seizing the opportunity to talk about its border controversy with Venezuela.
And the small South American nation that has been championing the role of forests in battling climate change is forging ahead with plans to protect its forest and earn money by doing so, hoping to set an example for the world of how a low carbon economy can work.
President Ali and Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo travelled to Dubai for COP28. The President will return to Guyana by December 2, the day before Venezuela plans to hold a referendum (a public vote) that is seen as the gateway for the Spanish-speaking country to annex the Essequibo region, a resource-rich area that spans two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass.
The first two days in Dubai was a whirlwind of meetings for the President and the Vice President: President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, King Charles III and British Foreign Secretary (and former Prime Minister) David Cameron.
King Charles and Mr. Cameron, the President told the News Room, restated their commitment to support Guyana in its position that the 1899 Arbitral Award settled the boundary line between Guyana and Venezuela. President Al Nahyan, Dr. Ali said, supports the final settlement of the controversy at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where Guyana has taken its case.
Meetings are planned for Friday with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They are, arguably, the two “top gun” world leaders coming to COP28 with the absence of the Presidents of the United States (US), Russia and China.
And in his last few hours on Friday, the President will address the high-level summit of world leaders, speak at Guyana’s side event on its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and push for other bilateral engagements.
“COP28 brings together leaders from across the world but it also gives us this opportunity to engage on important issues.
“… I have the opportunity to engage many leaders in bilaterals that I would have otherwise had to travel (to their countries) for,” President Ali said in an exclusive interview at the sidelines of COP28.
In 1899, the borders of Guyana (then British Guiana) and Venezuela were settled, with Venezuela inheriting 13,000 square kilometres of what was then British Guiana territory – an area bigger than Jamaica or Lebanon.
Venezuela participated in that tribunal and accepted the boundary award for about six decades until 1966 when British Guiana was about to become an independent state, Guyana. Venezuela then challenged the award, raising concerns about the 1899 award.
So the 1966 Geneva Agreement was created, establishing a framework to resolve the controversy. This is a political agreement, not a legal one like the 1899 Award. And for decades after this agreement, Guyana and Venezuela were locked in bilateral talks and a UN-backed engagement known as the Good Offices process.
In mid-February 2017, the new UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Dag Halvor Nylander of Norway as his Personal Representative on the Border Controversy, in a final effort at dialogue to settle the matter. That failed and on January 31, 2018, the UN Secretary-General referred the matter to the ICJ and Guyana filed its case.
In 2020, the ICJ found that it has the jurisdiction to hear the border case and earlier this year, it threw out Venezuela’s preliminary objections that, among other things, the United Kingdom must also be part of the case.
Guyana hopes for a final, binding ruling from the ICJ that reaffirms the 1899 Arbitral Award and makes it clear that the Essequibo region is its own. Venezuela refuses to recognise the Court and seems to be forging ahead with its referendum.
A clear climate connection?
Now, back to COP28.
The controversy deals with Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity but the area claimed by Venezuela includes a majority of the more than 18 million hectares of forests Guyana boasts about.
Those forests are important to Guyana and the world. About 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide is stored in those trees; that’s about 18% of the world’s forest carbon. If the forests are cut down, those gases would be released into the atmosphere and exacerbate climate change. Increasing emissions means intensified global warming and worsening disasters like wildfires and floods.
Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro government, through the referendum, is pushing the creation of a new Venezuelan state (Guayana Esequiba) at Guyana’s Essequibo region. Again, much of the area is covered in vast, dense forests but Venezuelans are also being asked if they support the issuance of Venezuela identification cards to people who live there.
Regardless of what Venezuela wants to do, Guyana says ‘not so fast!’
Vice President Jagdeo, during a public meeting with residents of Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) said Guyanese are not interested in Venezuelan ID cards. According to him, Guyanese are intent on keeping their land. Guyana also asked the World Court to block those questions in the referendum that interfere with Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
In Dubai, President Ali said he is telling his colleagues around the world of Venezuela’s “reckless and adventurous” actions but he makes it clear that this controversy has no influence on Guyana’s plans to keep protecting its forests and get compensation for doing so.
“First of all, we are very clear on where our borders are.
“We are pushing the forests because it is Guyana forests so we are not really factoring in the controversy in these climate talks.
“I mean, the ICJ will rule but we are very sure of our borders and all our resources within our borders and the natural assets within our borders and we are speaking definitively on the development of all our assets within our borders,” the President emphasised.
Though there is some time yet before the Court’s ruling on the substantive border controversy, the ICJ will on Friday rule on the provisional measures Guyana has asked for in light of Venezuela’s weekend referendum.
This story was published with the support of Climate Tracker through the COP28 Climate Justice Reporting Fellowship.
L’admiration dont fait l’objet Henry Kissinger, qui fut tout autant un fin érudit qu’un brillant diplomate, ne doit pas nous empêcher de nous interroger sur sa légende, souligne Justin Vaïsse, spécialiste de la politique étrangère américaine, dans une tribune au « Monde ».L’admiration dont fait l’objet Henry Kissinger, qui fut tout autant un fin érudit qu’un brillant […]
Amélie Oudéa-Castéra a annoncé, vendredi, qu’elle allait proposer l’ex-capitaine de l’équipe de France de gymnastique pour succéder à Claude Onesta à la tête de l’Agence nationale du sport.Amélie Oudéa-Castéra a annoncé, vendredi, qu’elle allait proposer l’ex-capitaine de l’équipe de France de gymnastique pour succéder à Claude Onesta à la tête de l’Agence nationale du sport.
Blessé depuis janvier 2023, le joueur espagnol a déclaré, vendredi, qu’il participerait au tournoi de Brisbane, début janvier, avant l’Open d’Australie, pour lancer ce qui devrait être l’ultime saison de sa carrière.Blessé depuis janvier 2023, le joueur espagnol a déclaré, vendredi, qu’il participerait au tournoi de Brisbane, début janvier, avant l’Open d’Australie, pour lancer ce qui devrait […]
here.
neil@newsroom.gy
Judge Joan E. Donoghue, President of the Court, read the Court’s Order
vishani@newsroom.gy
President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and other Guyanese officials engaging British Foreign Secretary David Cameron
President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet at COP28’s World Climate Action Summit (Photo: Office of the President/ December 1, 2023)
At left is a map of Guyana, from the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, showing the country’s natural regions and at right is a map of Guyana and Venezuela, from AFP, that includes the Essequibo region.
