The Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana (CMGG) was convened on 11 September 2025 by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Honourable Shirley Botchwey, at the request of the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and in accordance with the mandate of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1999 to monitor, “further developments in respect of the existing controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.”
See full statement from the Group
1. The Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana (CMGG) was convened on 11 September 2025 by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Honourable Shirley Botchwey, at the request of the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and in accordance with the mandate of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1999 to monitor, “further developments in respect of the existing controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.”
2. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr. Md. Touhid Hossain, Foreign Affairs Adviser of the interim Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and attended by Foreign Ministers from Antigua and Barbuda, Canada and Jamaica and representatives from Guyana and the United Kingdom.
3. The Ministerial Group congratulated Canada, Guyana and Jamaica on their recently held elections.
4. The Group acknowledged that Guyana’s cabinet appointments are yet to be made and welcomed the representative from Guyana, Ambassador Ivan Evelyn.
5. The Ministerial Group received an update from Ambassador Ivan Evelyn, representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, regarding the controversy over the validity of the Arbitral Award of 1899, and in particular, certain developments since the last CMGG meeting in September 2024.
6. The Group recognised and commended Guyana’s exemplary conduct, in particular its restraint and adherence to international law.
7. The Group reiterated its recognition of the Judgement of 18 December 2020 of the International Court of Justice, wherein the Court found that, pursuant to the case filed by Guyana in the International Court of Justice on 29 March 2018, the Court, “has jurisdiction to entertain the Application filed by the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on 29 March 2018 in so far as it concerns the validity of the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 and the related question of the definitive settlement of the land boundary dispute between the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela”.
8. The Group encouraged the parties to continue to engage with the International Court of Justice as the Court proceeds in 2026 to the oral hearings on the merits of the case. The Group recognised that Guyana has pledged to accept the Court’s judgement. The Group urged Venezuela to also accept the final ruling of the Court.
9. The Group noted with concern the reports from Guyana on the developments in Venezuela since the last CMGG meeting, including the holding of elections in Venezuela related to the Essequibo Region, contrary to the International Court of Justice Order of 1 May 2025; and the Group condemned the provocative action taken by a Venezuelan naval vessel in Guyana’s maritime waters on 1 March 2025.
10. The Group encouraged Guyana and Venezuela to continue the work begun with the 14 December 2023 Argyle Agreement to improve relations between the two nations and to find a peaceful resolution to the controversy.
11. The Ministerial Group commended the ongoing Good Offices of the Secretary-General to engage partners to support peace and stability in the Caribbean region. The Group urged the Secretary-General to continue to use her Good Offices to encourage all parties to accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.
12. The Group reiterated its firm and steadfast support for the International Court of Justice process as the appropriate and lawful means to address the matter under international law. Similarly, the Group confirmed its support for the preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana, for Guyana’s right to self-defence, and for the unobstructed exercise of its right to develop the entirety of its territory for the benefit of its people.
13. The Group reaffirmed and called on all to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations as an enduring value.
14. The Group agreed to inform all Commonwealth Member Governments of the outcome of this meeting and to present a Report to the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meeting later this month.
11 September 2025
The members of the Group, as constituted following the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Durban in 1999, are: Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Canada, Guyana, Jamaica, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
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