On Sunday, the Venezuelans elected a governor and deputies for thisquibo for the first time, a rich oil region that Venezuela claimed, despite being widely recognized as part of neighboring Guyana.
The 125,000 inhabitants of Essequibo, which represent more than 15% of the country’s English -speaking population, did not participate in Sunday’s election.
The vote, which was widely criticized by the Guyanian authorities, saw Venezuelans choose a new governor, six deputies for the Venezuela National Assembly and seven for a regional legislative assembly. It is unsure how employees once elected, they intend to manage the territory, which is governed by Guyana.
The election is the latest provocation in a longtime territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana.
The election occurs more than a year after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ordered the creation of a new state in the territory, which has approximately the size of Florida, called Guyana Essequiba, following a referendum who saw Venezuelan voters approve the measure.
Guyana considered Venezuela’s actions a step towards annexation and an “existential” threat as the spectrum of armed conflict approached the region.
Maduro first announced in January that a vote would be held for the locality as part of a wider election for governors and deputies across the country. “I appeal to the freedom of conscience of the people and the people to elevate the best for the positions of governor of the 24 states,” said Maduro on Telegram before Sunday elections, referring to Essequibo as the 24th state of the country.
The vote placed the Guyana on the maximum alert, with its resident, Irfaan there, nicknamed, on Saturday, the poll of “scandalous, false, propagandistic and opportunistic.”
Guyana has vast oil reserves and is on its way to becoming the largest oil producer to happen from the world. However, it has an estimated army in less than 5,000 soldiers and does not have the equipment or staff needed to face a possible Venezuelan aggression.
However, the country has sought narrow military cooperation with the United States, in view of Venezuela’s threats.
Washington rejected “all attempts by Nicolás Maduro and his illegitimate regime to undermine the territorial integrity of Guyana, including this last fraudulent election in the EssAQUIBO region,” the US State Department wrote on Sunday.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López countered criticism on the same day, saying: “We are supported on historical, legal and moral bases in relation to this territory.”
Decades claim
For decades, Venezuela claimed thisquibus, arguing that it was within its borders during the Spanish colonial period. Venezuela rejected a 1899 decision of international judges that established the current borders when Guyana was still a British colony.
Rio Estaquibo, which flows through the crossing of Kurupukari, in Guyana, on November 19, 2023. Venezuela has long claimed the Essiquibo region in Guyana, a larger territory than Greece and rich in oil and minerals. Juan Pablo Arraez/AP
Guyana has controlled the region since its independence in 1966. The recent discovery of vast oil fields Largo da Costa in the area increased the importance of the dispute.
In 2018, Guyana filed a request to the International Court to try to validate the 1899 decision. The case is still being analyzed. While awaiting a final decision, the court ordered earlier this month that Venezuela refrained from conducting elections in the territory, but Caracas rejected the court’s jurisdiction on the matter.
On Saturday, the night before the elections in Venezuela and two days before Guyana’s Independence Day, the Guyanian authorities organized a national patriotic concert in Essequibo to affirm their sovereignty over the territory.
The event attracted thousands of people who were spotted to shake the Guianense flag and use t-shirts where he read: “This is from Guyana.”
“Thisquiba belongs to Guyana and we will do everything to ensure that thisquiba is part forever of our 83,000 square miles,” the president told the multitude of supporters.
