While the authorities of Venezuela have chosen to abstain from the proceedings which have started in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on the border controversy matter with Guyana, any decision handed down will still be binding on both parties says Advisor on Borders, Carl Greenidge. The official sought to set the record straight on this matter as he noted that there are some sections of the society that are concerned about the implications of Venezuela’s nonattendance and the fact that it does not recognize the court.
Greenidge further clarified that while the Spanish speaking nation is yet to make an appearance before the court, it is still free to intervene at any time following the case management hearing that comes up on January 15, 2021. The Advisor said that the case management will put forward deadlines for presentations by the parties involved and a decision would be handed down forthwith.
Expounding further, the Advisor said, “At the end of the presentations, each of the parties may be given an opportunity to add remarks to written submissions or they may be called upon to answer questions. So you have individual presentations, okay, one after the other, then questions or oral arguments, and subsequent to that, the court will retire and come back with a decision…Of course, Venezuela indicated that it would not participate. But the court said it can participate at any point.”
If Venezuela intervenes or attempts to “come to the court through the back door by submitting a memorandum which does not conform to the guidelines set by the court” Greenidge said it is hoped that in sympathy the court will take note of same even if it does proceed to review the submissions for any argument that would be worthy of consideration.
