Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo says Guyana is prepared for the worst, increasing defence cooperation with its allies, even though Nicolas Maduro is unlikely to invade after Sunday’s referendum.
On Sunday, the Maduro regime organised a symbolic referendum to support its longtime claim to Essequibo, a gold- and diamond-rich area with massive offshore oil potential. International press reported poor voter turnout, however the Venezuelan election commission reported 50%.
Dr. Jagdeo feels the statistics are phoney and the result was “disastrous” for Maduro’s drive to create a Venezuelan state in Essequibo and provide citizenship to its residents.
Jagdeo said Maduro has guaranteed international leaders he will not invade Guyana, but the government is wary and won’t take chances.
“We have been working with our partners to improve defence cooperation.
“It means that we are engaging, we are coordinating efforts (with) those who are engaged with us, working to build our capacity, not just planning capability, but to look at protecting our territorial integrity,” Dr. Jagdeo told the UN Climate Summit News Room in Dubai.
Since Venezuela will enforce the referendum results, Dr. Jagdeo said Guyana is “prepared for any eventuality.”
Guyana’s appeal for a legally enforceable border settlement was heard by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday, which ordered Venezuela not to acquire control of the Essequibo.
The line between Guyana and Venezuela was set by an arbitration tribunal 124 years ago, but Venezuela rejected it in 1962 as faulty. After decades of talks failed, the UN Secretary General brought the dispute to the ICJ, the UN’s main judicial authority. The court can hear and judge the case, but Venezuela proposed the referendum first.
Guyana requested protection, and the Court declared Friday that the Essequibo has been Guyanese territory since the 1899 arbitration tribunal judgement and that Venezuela should not interfere with Guyanese sovereignty.
Dr. Jagdeo said Guyana will not “just sit down and accept it” if Venezuela ignores the Court order.
