Guyanese Online

The Venezuela/Guyana Boundary Question – Analysis By Professor Clifton Child

A dispute between Venezuela and British Guiana ( Great Britain) in the 1800s over the boundary between the two countries led to the Treaty of Washington which created an Arbitration Tribunal to settle the dispute. Both Venezuela and Britain agreed in the Treaty (signed) that the Award will be “full, perfect and final.”

The 5-member Tribunal consisted of 2 American Judges on behalf of Venezuela, 2 British Judges on behalf of British Guiana and a Russian Judge as the President. The Tribunal began hearings in Paris, France, in June 1899 and rendered its Award in October, 1899.

Under the Award, Venezuela received 5,000 square miles of British Guiana’s territory which included the oil-rich Orinoco Basin. The Award was accepted by the Governments of Venezuela and Britain.  Continue reading →