On November 26, 2023, hundreds of Guyanese who reside along the Essequibo Coast in Region Two (Pomeroon – Supenaam) assembled in Anna Regina to demonstrate their unwavering support for the area they have called home and to protest Venezuela’s attempts to acquire Guyana’s Cinderella Country, Essequibo.
A referendum scheduled on December 3 in Venezuela aims to establish the “Guayana Essequibo” as a new state. It also offers to provide Venezuelan citizenship and identity cards to Guyanese residing in the state, with the intention of adding the territory to the country’s map.
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Nonetheless, many Essequibians were undoubtedly convinced by the loud cries of those who work and reside on the Essequibo region that they are uninterested.
Leading the public discussion on the Guyana/Venezuela controversy was Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who emphasized that there was no disagreement inside the country about the matter.
According to him, the whole nation is in favor of Essequibo staying part of Guyana.
“People are fleeing your country; if you didn’t notice Delcy or Maduro… they don’t want your ID cards. We are happy to be Guyanese and live in our own country.
Jagdeo stated, “We don’t want your ID cards, we don’t want you anywhere near our country.”
In addition to the fact that Essequibo has been a part of Guyana for more than a century, he expressed his happiness that the people of that country want it to stay that way indefinitely.
“The Guyana Government and opposition agree that Essequibo has been Guyana since 1899,” To raucous cheers, yells, and the waving of numerous flags by the assembled, Jagdeo remarked.
He gave the locals his word that Venezuela would never be able to alter Guyana’s borders. He dubbed it the imperial design of Venezuela.
Vice-President Jagdeo noted, “Now and long into the future you will remain Essequibians and citizens of the country of Guyana.
“You will continue to live in a democratic country and you and your children will continue to share in the prosperity that is emerging in our country.
“Young people, older people, everyone and we must have this great sense of pride in our country.”
He forewarned the administration of Nicloas Maduro not to doubt the unity or resolve of Guyanese or, worse, to misjudge Guyana’s reaction to any potential invasion.
With US defense teams scheduled to arrive this week, Guyana is prepared for every scenario.
Jagdeo declared that if Venezuela succeeds, then no border in the world will be safe, with confidence that Guyana will stay 83,000 square miles.
“…If they succeed, that will mean that any country can one day decide to repudiate century-old borders on the basis of spurious claims,” Jagdeo remarked.
The vice president of Guyana made barbs at vice president Delcy Rodriguez of Venezuela, claiming that Rodriguez has been the main propagandist for misinformation about the situation.
Among these lies are the claims that the 1899 arbitral ruling is null and void and that the borders between Venezuela and Guyana were never established.
In order to avoid spreading the false information being pushed by the Venezuelan officials, he advised Guyanese to exercise caution.
“Sometimes we spread their rumors more than trying to fight off the lies… spreading the rumors have created a lot of unease… many people are worried.
“In another part of the media we had to fight off another rumor… they said people are fleeing from Region One… we check the number of aircraft; it is the same.
“One guy said the ferry is overbooked… the ferry is always overbooked,” he explained.
Jagdeo gave residents comfort, saying that everyone is rooting for Guyana and watching the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case through to its end. He added that Guyana enjoys robust military and diplomatic assistance.
“When this border is settled and it will be settled by the International Court of Justice… we are prepared to talk on any other matter except that one issue because for long, the bilateral approach has not yielded results… we still have to live as neighbors,” Jagdeo told a news media.
Despite Venezuela’s lack of credibility, he concluded his speech by assuring the audience that Guyana is neither hostile nor warmongering.
“They say they don’t want to do anything but we can’t trust them given the rhetoric coming from there.”
Guyana aspires for a definitive, binding decision that upholds the 1899 Arbitral Award, which created the current line between itself and Venezuela, while the World Court is currently considering the border dispute.
Guyana’s main request is for the court to confirm that the Essequibo area belongs to it.
Jagdeo stated that although Guyana is willing to communicate with Venezuela, the process would not be halted in front of the ICJ.
