Committee: International Court of Justice

Topic: The Controversy of Arbitral Award for the territory of the Essequibo.
Country: Jamaica
Judge: Patrick Lipton Robinson
Delegates: Fernando Martínez and Valeria Acosta

Good afternoon honorable chair, distinguished advocates, and fellow judges.

This conflict had its origins more than a century before the writing of this position paper,
in the Essequibo territory, which covers from the Essequibo river in the west, to Mount
Roraima in the east; when Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in 1841 denounced an alleged
incursion from the British Empire, incursion in which the British Guiana was implicated.
By this Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela asked from help to the Unites States of America
under the Monroe Doctrine “America for the Americans”. One hundred and eighty years
later this conflict stills causing problems to families that live in that zone.

Statements of Law:
1. The Washington Treaty: In 1887, after the United States of America proposed by
the Congress, the resolution 252 under the Monroe Doctrine to resolve the conflict
in international arbitration, then the United Kingdom avoiding conflicts signed in
1887 in Washington a Treaty which would lead the drawing of the borders of Anglo-
Venezuelan zone.
2. The Geneva Agreements: On February 17th, 1966, the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela and the United Kingdom signed this agreement. Three months after the
signature Guiana achieved independency and signed the agreement with the United
Kingdom and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. First three articles stipulate the
establishment of a Joint commission to seek a solution between the parties. The
first paragraph of the Fourth Article mentions that if this Commission fails on its
mission, the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela will choose the best peaceful
solution to the problem.
Application of law:
1. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela affirms that the arbitral Award is invalid and
unfair, for which it does not recognize it since it considers a violation of the rights
that Venezuela has over the Essequibo, which belonged to it before the arrival of
the empires.
2. The British Empire received a complaint for an alleged incursion into Venezuelan
territory, which caused resentment on the part of Venezuela towards Guyana,
which was involved with the United Kingdom.
Finally, I believe that the conflict between the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and
Guyana has become a rather complicated dilemma, since both parties are reluctant to
give up the Essequibo territory, making it impossible to find a short-term solution. For
the resolution to this controversy, I want to suggest that both parties will meet again in
a peaceful environment, in which they will be willing to accept proposals and reach a
conclusion in which both countries benefit, analyzing the pros and cons of a fair
distribution of the territory.