Venezuelans Approve Referendum to Claim Ownership of Guyana's Essequibo Region

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Monday morning described as “misinformation” a video circulating on social media showing the hoisting of a Venezuelan flag along the western border in Essequibo replacing the Guyana “Golden Arrowhead” flag. The statement by the GDF comes as Venezuelans on Sunday approved a referendum that had been called by the Nicolás Maduro government in its bid to claim sovereignty over mineral rich Essequibo.

Guyana soldiers stand beside the country’s flag in the disputed Essequibo region“We categorically state that the flag being lowered is not the recently hoisted Golden Arrowhead along our border. Clear distinctions between the two locations are evident in the accompanying photographs. Notably, the recently installed plaque at the authentic site is absent in the video in question,” the GDF said.

“The public must understand that the video’s content is misleading and does not represent any activity or incident within Guyana. We appreciate the public’s vigilance and encourage reliance on verified sources for accurate information and urge the responsible sharing of information,” the GDF said, adding that it “remains steadfast in its duty to serve this nation”.

The statement by the GDF comes as Venezuelans on Sunday approved a referendum that had been called by the Nicolás Maduro government in its bid to claim sovereignty over the mineral rich Essequibo in Guyana.

The National Electoral Council (NEC) claimed more than 10.5 million voters cast ballots during the event that had been extended by two  hours.. They were asked whether they support establishing a state in the disputed territory, granting citizenship to current and future area residents and rejecting the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in settling the disagreement between the two countries.

Last Friday, the ICJ ruled that Venezuela must not take any action to seize the mineral and forest-rich county of Essequibo in Guyana.

Both Georgetown and Caracas had made presentations to the ICJ during two-days of hearing last month into the case relating to the 1899 Arbitral Award after Guyana, in its request, had said that the Venezuela government, through its National Electoral Council had published a list of five questions that it had intended to put before the people of Venezuela in a “Consultative Referendum” on Sunday.

In its ruling, the ICJ issued a number of provisional measures that “unanimously pending a final decision in the case,  the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action, which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Cooperative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area”.

The ICJ said also that “unanimously both parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the court or make it more difficult to resolve.

“The court emphasizes that the question of the validity of the 1899 Award and the related question of the definitive settlement of the land boundary dispute between Guyana and Venezuela are matters for the court to decide at the merits stage.

“The court recalls that Guyana has requested to indicate measures aimed at ensuring the non aggravation of the dispute with Venezuela, when indicating provisional measures for the purpose of reserving specific rights.”

On Sunday night, President Irfaan Ali, addressing a “Night of Patriotic Reflection” at the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, said he had a had a message for the people of Venezuela, President Maduro and Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez.

“Nothing you say, no amount of propaganda or lies, would drive fear in my heart or in the heart of any Guyanese. You will not disrupt our lives,” Ali said to  loud cheers from those gathered.

He reiterated the call for Venezuela to honour the latest ICJ ruling saying the Essequibo region has been governed by Guyana for the past 124 years and Venezuela “shall” refrain from any action that would “modify” or change this.

“Today, you have a responsibility; you can honour the order of the ICJ, you can show that you care about this region, that you care about your people, that you care about peace, and that you are about peace, by honouring the orders of the ICJ.

“And those orders make it very clear – you can take no action that would change the status quo as it is today. And that status quo is that the Essequibo belongs to Guyana and Essequibo is administered by Guyana,” Ali added.

“Of course, you can reject logic, you can reject facts, you can reject history, you can reject honesty, and you can reject the orders of the Court but where would that put your people and your country?

“Unless your country and your people are not important to you. Unless you believe you’re superior to your country and your people.”

President Ali said Guyana’s first line of defence is diplomacy, reiterating that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country will not be caught off-guard if the Maduro government decides to take action following the December 3 referendum.

“We’re not closing any relationship with the people of Venezuela, but let me be very clear, we’re not going to be trampled upon. We’re not going to be caught off-guard. We will do everything within the confines of international law and human dignity to protect what is ours, to protect our borders, to protect the Essequibo.

“I want every Guyanese to know, regardless of the circumstances, how difficult it is, how easy it is, how burdensome it is, how dangerous it is, you will never see me away from you. I will be with you at the front, by your side, every single time, every single moment.

“You can be assured of that. Do not worry about this. I will be at the front of any circumstance that requires my leadership for Guyana, and the people of Guyana. Make no mistake of this,” President Ali said.

The Guyanese head of state reiterate an earlier call for the two countries to continue to live as neighbours.

“You are our neighbors, our friends, our brothers and sisters; you have our love, do not misplace our love; you have our open arms, do not destroy those arms. You have a responsibility to the next generation of Venezuelans to ensure that they live in dignity, they live in prosperity and in honor and that should be your focus,” Ali added.