HEAD of the legal team spearheading Guyana’s case in the Guyana/Suriname border dispute, Sir Shridath Ramphal and his colleague Paul Reichler, are expected here this month to brief the government on developments in the matter.
This was disclosed by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Rudy Insanally who told the Chronicle that the United Nations International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea held its first meeting in London last month to define procedures and determine the terms of reference in relation to the case.
He explained that during the bilateral discussions the two sides could not have arrived at a common position because of several factors, including differing interpretations of their mandate and common language for the communiqué.
In order to get the arbitral process started, Suriname will now have to prepare and send its statement of claim to Hamburg, the minister said, adding that it would also have a well-prepared case.
Touching on the preparedness of Guyana to advance its case, Insanally said its team comprises an eminent group of legal luminaries who have distinguished themselves at various international legal fora.
Guyana’s legal team for these proceedings comprise former Foreign Affairs Minister Ramphal, Mr Reichler of the Washington law firm of Foley Hoag, Dr Payam Akhavan of the Yale Law School and Professor Thomas Frank who served as an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice in the Hague.
The Foreign Minister noted that Guyana’s statement of claim has been sent to UN Secretary General Koffi Anan, other relevant officials and the President of the International Tribunal on the Convention of the Law of the Sea.
He also said that that the Guyana High Commissioner in London has been asked to deliver the statement of claim in person in Hamburg and to become acquainted with the arbitral process.
The Government of Guyana officially notified the Suriname Government earlier this year of its decision to request the intervention of the UN International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea based in Hamburg, Germany to give a binding decision on the existing maritime dispute between the two CARICOM neighbours. (CHAMANLALL NAIPAUL)