Venezuelan electoral council approves five referendum questions aimed at possible annexation of Guyana's Essequibo Region.

GEORGETOWN,  Guyana, October 23, 2023 - The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuelan is taking steps to lay the groundwork for the possible eventual annexation of the border region with Guyana, in line with the Maduro administration's position as it relates to Venezuela's age old border dispute with Guyana.

On December 3, 2023, Venezuelans will be asked to vote on whether they support their country’s historical position that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) cannot be used to resolve the territorial controversy with Guyana and instead the two countries should use the 1966 Geneva Agreement.

Venezuelan media also report that the referendum will seek to determine whether that Spanish-speaking nation should declare Essequibo a State, take care of the people living in that county and grant them Venezuelan citizenship.

The question asks: “Do you agree with the creation of the Guayana Esequiba state and the development of an accelerated plan for the comprehensive care of the current and future population of that territory that includes, among others, the granting of citizenship and Venezuelan identity card in accordance with the Geneva Agreement and international law, consequently incorporating said state on the map of Venezuelan territory?

The president of the National Electoral Council, Elvis Amoroso, revealed that the consultation will have five questions and urged Venezuelans to participate in the process.

On October 21, the Essequibo Defense Commission published the electoral schedule.

“The National Electoral Council unanimously approved the questions that will be asked in defense of Guayana Esequiba , to be held on December 3, 2023 ,” said the president of the National Electoral Council, Elvis Amoroso.

In the same way, the five questions were revealed during statements with the media ahead of the national consultation.

1. Do you agree to reject by all means in accordance with the law the line fraudulently imposed by the Paris Arbitration Award of 1899 that seeks to deprive us of our Guayana Esequiba?
2. Do you support the 1966 Geneva Agreement as the only valid legal instrument to reach a practical and satisfactory solution for Venezuela and Guyana regarding the controversy over the territory of Guayana Esequiba?
3. Do you agree with Venezuela’s historical position of not recognizing the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice to resolve the territorial controversy over Guayana Esequiba?
4. Do you agree to oppose by all means in accordance with the law Guyana’s claim to unilaterally dispose of a sea pending delimitation illegally and in violation of international law?
5. Do you agree with the creation of the Guayana Esequiba state and the development of an accelerated plan for the comprehensive care of the current and future population of that territory that includes, among others, the granting of citizenship and Venezuelan identity card in accordance with the Geneva Agreement and international law, consequently incorporating said state on the map of Venezuelan territory?

“Everyone to participate in this referendum in defense of the Homeland,” said Amoroso.

On October 21, the Essequibo Defense Commission, through its account on Some of the important events such as the electoral simulation will be held on November 12 , the campaign from November 6 to December 1 and later the software audit.

Guyana maintains that it has exhausted the mediation process under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary General and so in 2018, he referred the matter to the ICJ. Recently Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali dismissed his Venezuelan counterpart’s request for bilateral talks on resolving the controversy.

The ICJ has already ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear Guyana’s case which seeks a declaration that the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award is a full, final and perfect settlement of the land boundary with Venezuela.

International Relations Professor Mark Kirton and former Ambassador Ronald Austin, have called for a stiff diplomatic lobby in the Caribbean and South America and the education of Guyanese about Guyana’s position.