Venezuela and Guyana Leaders To Meet December 14 as Essequibo Dispute Simmers

A conflict between Guyana and Venezuela over the vast swathe of land known as the Essequibo region, rich in oil and minerals, is causing their neighbors to be tense. However, the two sides have at least agreed to meet as the threat of war hangs over South America.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and Guyana's President Mohamed Irfaan Ali will be meeting in person, and this was revealed by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, with the rest of the world watching as a new war may happen after recent Venezuelan actions in claiming Essequibo territory that the international community has recognized as rightfully Guyana's.

The dispute has been going on for over a hundred years now. While Guyana is recognized as the true owner of the Essequibo region, Venezuela does not recognize it despite an 1899 resolution saying so. The Maduro-run country also does not recognize the UN's authority over the dispute.

Maduro has become obsessed with the Essequibo issue as of late, even campaigning for Venezuela to have the right to use its vast resources for itself as it is, as Maduro claims, rightful Venezuela territory. He even launched a referendum, which passed through, though many are questioning the true numbers as the vote had a very low turnout.

Venezuela stated that this meeting "is in order to preserve our aspiration to maintain Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace." Meanwhile, Guyana has stated that President Ali has agreed to the meeting but reiterated that "Guyana's land boundary is not up for discussion."

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines To Host Meeting Between Venezuela and Guyana Over Essequibo

Usually, a neutral third party would play mediator for two countries in conflict with one another. In this case, it will be the Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, which will hold the Venezuela-Guyana summit on December 14 local time.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves will be accompanying both Ali and Maduro in the meeting, with both Guyanese and Venezuelan governments confirming that it is indeed happening in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

According to VOA News, president pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States or CELAC, Ralph Gonsalves, as well as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, will also be attending the meeting.

CELAC and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are mediating the talks as many in Latin America and the Caribbean are pushing for talks between the two countries. Meanwhile, the US is backing Guyana and has already started flight drills with the country.

Fears in Guyana as Venezuela Might Invade

As for the reaction in Guyana, the entire country is on edge as its military continues to be on alert for a possible land grab from their Venezuelan neighbors. Essequibo is made up of many different indigenous peoples, and they are not too happy with Maduro's referendum as they do not identify themselves as Venezuelan but as Guyanese.

Brentnol Ashley, governor for the Barima-Waini region near the Guyana-Venezuela border, told The Guardian, "We are a diverse nation, but at the end of the day we are all one people: the Guyanese."

"We are not in need of Mr Maduro's ID cards! We already have one. We are Guyanese!" he added. "Even the Venezuelans who have sought refuge here stand with us on this. They do not want to suffer more of the hardship that sent them here in the first place."

Even in Guyana's capital, Georgetown, people are on edge as the possibility of an invasion from Venezuela, a country with a much superior military, looms.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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