A map prepared for the recently concluded summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) showing Guyana's Essequibo region as belonging to Venezuela was withdrawn after protests by a Guyanese delegation headed by President Bharrat Jagdeo.

President Jagdeo, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister, Rudy Insanally and Guyana's ambassador to Caracas, Bayney Karran, said that the Venezuelan government graciously withdrew it following Guyana's objection.

He explained that the map was brought to the government's attention before the delegation left Guyana for the summit on Venezuela's Margarita Island. As a result, he said, that the matter was taken up with the CARICOM Heads and with the ACS Secretary General, Professor Norman Girvan.

Venezuela, for more than three decades, has been pursuing a claim to the Essequibo region despite the issue of the border between the two countries being settled by the 1899 Arbitral Award. Venezuela has rejected the 1899 Award which said the determination of Guyana's western border with Venezuelan was a full and final settlement of the issue.