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the World Court ruled that the Essequibo region, rich in gold, diamonds and oil reserves off its coast, has been governed by Guyana for the past 124 years and Venezuela “shall” refrain from any action that would “modify” or change this.

Venezuela set its referendum for Sunday and Guyana fears it would lead the Spanish-speaking country to annex the Essequibo region and to grant Venezuelan citizenship to its inhabitants, causing irreparable harm to Guyana’s rights.

That’s why Guyana moved to the Court for “provisional measures” or protection before the Court issues a final judgement on the substantive border case.

The Court agreed with Guyana and ruled this way: “Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Co-operative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area.”

Following the ruling, the international community swiftly issued statements calling for the Court’s order to be respected.

Venezuela, from statements issued by government officials, is nonetheless pressing ahead with its referendum.

President Ali, during his address to the nation, reminded Venezuela that the international community is on Guyana’s side and the move to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a final, binding settlement is well-supported.

So, he urged Venezuelan leaders against any action that runs “afoul” of international law. Dr. Ali also pointed out that come what may, Guyana and Venezuela will remain neighbours based on their geographical location.

Any untoward action, therefore, wouldn’t augur well for good neighbourly relations.

“We are your neighbours and we are taught to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. Long after this controversy, we have to live as neighbours,” he said.

Aside from speaking directly to Venezuelans, the President reassured Guyanese of Guyana’s resounding support around the world. He also said all efforts are being pursued to guarantee that the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty remain intact, noting that those in Guyana’s armed forces have been working above and beyond.

“…We are working around the clock to ensure our borders remain intact and the people and our countries remain safe,” he said.

The President added, “Challenges bring out the best in people and I am very proud in how we, as Guyanese, handled this challenge.”

After respecting the boundary established by the 1899 Arbitral Award for decades, Venezuela in 1962 rejected the award and a process was set in motion to resolve its claim. Talks between the countries over several decades failed to arrive at a solution and the United Nations Secretary-General referred the matter to the World Court.

Guyana filed its case and it is still before the Court; it hopes that the Court would reaffirm the 1899 Award and prove, once and for all, that the Essequibo region belongs to Guyana and not Venezuela.

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The $2 million tournament will be played on a round-robin basis and will involve all five associations of the Demerara Cricket Board, namely Georgetown Panthers, East Coast Canje Pheasants, East Bank Eagles, Upper Demerara Scorpions and West Demerara Jaguars.

The team with the most points after the preliminary rounds will play the fourth place team, and the second and third placed teams will clash in the semi-finals with those winners to battle in the grand final.

Preceding the final is a third place playoff between the two losing semi-finalists. The semi-finals and final will be livestreamed. All the teams will be attired in coloured clothing with cash incentives, trophies and medals up for grabs.

Each association is required to select two Under-19 players who are eligible to represent Guyana next year in Regional Under-19 tournament, with at least one of them to play in every game.

Players must represent the area in which they reside with the exception of Upper Demerara which will be allowed guest players drawn from the standby players of the other Associations.

At a simple but significant pre-tournament ceremony held recently, company accountant Marissa Jaikaran, expressed pleasure to be part of this historic tournament.

She also said that her company is pleased to give back to the youth in Guyana and wished every team well.

In response, Bissoondyal Singh, President of the DCB, thanked the sponsors for coming on board and promised a well-run tournament with the best possible media coverage.

Board executives Vicky Bharosay- Treasurer; Davteerth Anandjit- Secretary; Anil Beharry- Marketing Manager; and representatives of the associations also made brief remarks. The teams will be announced at a later date.

Game one will bowl off at 09:00h, followed by game two at 13:00h on December 9.

(Jamaica Observer) – The Jamaican Government has reiterated its support for Guyana in the increasingly tense border [controversy] with Venezuela following Friday’s unanimous ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The ICJ, the United Nations’ top court, ordered Venezuela not to take any action that would alter Guyana’s control over the disputed territory but did not specifically ban Venezuela from holding its planned referendum Sunday on the territory’s future.

Guyana had asked the ICJ to order a halt to parts of the vote, saying it was aimed at paving the way for Venezuela to annex the disputed Essequibo region, which makes up some two-thirds of Guyana.

Both countries interpreted Friday’s ruling as largely backing their own positions on the territory, which is larger than Greece and is rich in oil and minerals.

While the court order fell short of any explicit mention of the referendum, it said that Venezuela must “refrain from taking any action which would modify that situation that currently prevails” in Essequibo.

The legally binding ruling remains in place until a case brought by Guyana against Venezuela on the region’s future is considered by the court, which could take years.

But even as both states claimed victory, Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, in a mid-afternoon media release, said that the court’s order strongly supports Guyana’s position, which is shared by Jamaica.

“Even as Jamaica supports the court’s order that both parties are to refrain from any action that aggravates the current situation, we note as well that the court has said more particularly that Venezuela should “refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Cooperative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area.

“This would have direct implications for the planned holding of a referendum by Venezuela on December 3,” said Johnson Smith.

“The order is also made pending the court’s final determination of the validity of the Arbitral Award that established the land boundary between the two states. In this regard, it is Jamaica’s hope, as we have expressed on previous occasions, that Venezuela will participate meaningfully in that adjudication process,” added Johnson Smith.

She said Jamaica expressly supports the statement issued on Friday by Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, which welcomed the ruling and called on Venezuela to join Guyana in demonstrating respect for international law and the principles that govern peaceful co-existence.

“We, too, view the ICJ adjudication process as a positive signal towards a peaceful resolution of this issue, and one which will give validity to future outcomes.

“The Government of Jamaica remains firmly committed to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Jamaica fully supports the work of the ICJ and its ability to deliver justice where there is breach of the United Nations’ founding principles in an impartial, transparent, and independent manner,” declared Johnson Smith.

She added: “In this regard, Guyana can continue to count on Jamaica’s support of the Caricom position in defence of its sovereign rights and territorial integrity.”

In comments explaining the verdict, ICJ President Joan E Donoghue said the order was necessary because “Venezuela’s expressed readiness to take action” on the disputed territory “at any moment following the referendum” showed that there is “a real and imminent risk of irreparable prejudice to Guyana’s plausible right before the court gives its final decision.”

Venezuela has arranged a referendum to ask voters five questions Sunday, including whether to create a Venezuelan State in Essequibo and whether voters support granting Venezuelan citizenship to the region’s current and future residents.

Venezuela does not recognise the UN panel’s jurisdiction over the more-than-century-old dispute, but the country’s Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez nonetheless characterised the ruling as a “victory for Venezuela”, given that the UN did not order a halt to the referendum plans.

“Guyana went looking for wool and came out sheared,” Rodríguez told reporters in Caracas after the ruling was announced.

thumping innings and 134 runs victory in the opening game.

GFF Electoral Committee made the announcement of eligible members on Saturday, Wilson highlighted: “The fact that the GFF and the Electoral Committee waited until seven (7) days before the elections to identify the list of eligible voters, resulting in the exclusion of four (4) members, who were deemed not to be in good standing, demonstrates their indifference to a free and fair process.”

See below full statement issued by Wilson

In less than one week the direction the sport of football takes will be made clear when the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) stages its Electoral Congress, at the National Training Centre, Providence.

In what can only be described as an obvious attempt to hijack the process, the Wayne Forde-led GFF has shown total contempt for the football fraternity.

The fact that the GFF and the Electoral Committee waited until seven (7) days before the elections to identify the list of eligible voters, resulting in the exclusion of four (4) members, who were deemed not to be in good standing, demonstrates their indifference to a free and fair process.

Had they been genuinely immersed in the tenets of good governance and fair play then every step should have been taken to ensure that all members of the electorate be clear about the eligibility procedures.

Instead, because the GFF’s responses to queries for clarity on the crucial requirements were apathetic and vague, the four members are now debarred from participating in the process.

They are: West Demerara Football Association, Guyana Police Force Football Club, Western Tigers Football Club and Santos Football Club.

However, Wilson in his outreach to all the eligible constituents has made it clear that should they be given the mandate to govern, (and) they intend to meet with stakeholders to address some of the contentious changes in the recently revised constitution.

He cited the three-term modification as one of the main issues that will be up for discussion, while the lack of clarity on the eligibility of voters is another matter that will certainly be examined.

Additionally, he stressed the importance of every member being able to vote at such an important Congress, adding that every effort should have been made to apprise them of their obligations.

Wilson informed that should they take the seat of office, going forward, extensive deliberations to make the process easier and transparent will be a top priority of his administration.

“Our approach will be an all-inclusive one, where every stakeholder of the sport will be afforded the opportunity to offer their opinions in an effort to make the game safe, resilient, sustainable and proficiently managed, as outlined in our stated vision,” Wilson said.

The Wilson-led slate has also disclosed its areas of focus, key stakeholders who will be approached to drive the sport forward, while a robust plan for every component related to sustainable development of the sport has been shared to all stakeholders.

“I think we have a very good strategy to pull the sport out of its current state. Very little has been done at the local level, the game’s reputation as one of the premier sports locally has suffered immensely and these are just some of the things we intend to address seriously.”

He promised that every related arm for the sport’s resurgence will be tackled, namely coaches’ education, referees’ development, women’s growth at every level, enhanced facilities in every regional association, effective partnership with the corporate sector for sustainable funding, a solid working relationship with the government, on-going consultative and respectful engagements with its members.

Wilson theorised that with his vast experience at the administrative level combined with those on his slate, voters will be able to evaluate where the sport is today against the vision, they have for it going forward.

On the third, having regard to the provisions of the GFF Statutes and the GFF Electoral Code, including Article 15.1 of the GFF Statutes, the Electoral Committee has determined that the following Members are in Good Standing:

1. Bartica Football Association;
2. Berbice Football Association;
3. East Bank Football Association;
4. East Coast Demerara Football Association;
5. Essequibo/Pomeroon Football Association;
6. Georgetown Football Association;
7. Upper Demerara Football Association;
8. Rupununi Football Association;
9. Guyana Football Coaches’ Association;
10. Guyana Football Referees’ Council;
11. The Women’s Football Association;
12. Ann’s Grove Football Club;
13. Buxton United Football Club;
14. Den Amstel Football Club;
15. Fruta Conquerors Football Club;
16. Guyana Defence Force Football Club;
17. Milerock Football Club; and
18. Victoria Kings Football Club.

Consequently, the following are determined not to be in Good Standing:

1. West Demerara Football Association;
2. Guyana Police Force Football Club;
3. Western Tigers Football Club; and
4. Santos Football Club.

Please note that Article 15.1 (b) provides that the Member must have had an election of its decision-making body at least every four years.

As such, although the respective entity rules or Constitutions may provide for elections every two years, the GFF Statute would allow a party to be in good standing once their election was held within the previous four years.  However, that was not the sole determining factor.

Regards,

GFF Electoral Committee