ABSTRACT
Ideally, regional mechanisms of conflict resolution should be exhausted, or at least taken into account, before the United Nations acts or other independent action by individual countries is undertaken. Dr. Jagan maintains that the Geneva agreement and the Protocol of Port-of-Spain were also signed through United States pressure, since the United States wished to keep the dispute alive, even if de-escalated. Venezuela consistently opposed Guyanese efforts to develop the Essequibo, claiming that such development would be a violation of the Geneva agreement and the Protocol of Port-of-Spain. The solution would involve the retention of legal sovereignty over the Essequibo by Guyana while Venezuela would assist in the development of the area, under reasonable terms established by Guyana. Guyana wanted development aid to be given within the context of its national development plan, and for Guyana as a whole, not just for the Essequibo.
