Dear Editor,
Two significant events occurred in the past weeks that setback Venezuela’s illegitimate claim on Guyana’s sovereign territory. First, a resounding ‘No’ by Venezuelans to Maduro as measured by the turnout for the referendum. Second, President Irfaan Ali and his government’s presence on the diplomatic front engaged with world leaders and securing their support for Guyana against what can now be characterized as Maduro’s fantasy.
Reports out of Venezuela on the referendum show that “The turnout appeared so underwhelming that analysts have widely accused the Venezuelan government of falsifying the results.” (The Guardian, 12/4/23). News in mainstream media in and out of Guyana show that merely 1.5 million people voted in the referendum, which
contradicts the Venezuelan Government’s claim that 10 million voted, which would be a more significant vote than when Maduro was elected.
Additionally, those vested in this issue, as all Guyanese are, should be cognizant that regardless of the outcome of this referendum, Maduro will falsify the results to justify his motives. Maduro had previously stated that the referendum results would determine “the course I (he) will take,” so given the low turnout and lack of public support, he should refrain from any actions. He had personally called on over 20 million Venezuelans to come out and vote for the referendum, but his voice fell on deaf ears, indicating how unpopular he is with Venezuelans. His next moves are to persist with laws to annex the 160,000km, publishing a fallacious map and illegally encouraging on Guyana’s natural resources.
Maduro’s motive in calling for this referendum is to justify whatever illegal actions he wants against a sovereign nation and to cloud his unpopularity within his own nation. He is unpopular and does not enjoy the support of Venezuelans. He has poisoned his relationships with his neighbours, including Columbia, Brazil, and Guyana. His undemocratic and dictatorial approach to governance is not winning the support of the Venezuelan populace but is resulting in the alienation of his regime. Maduro’s goal is to win support for his presidential run in 2024, however, it is unclear if he would abide and honour the results of a fair and free election.
The second and most important aspect of this situation is President Irfaan Ali and his government’s work on the international diplomatic front. President Ali has seized every opportunity to engage international leaders on this issue and solicit their full support. His approach has been thoughtful, non-combative, and genuine, as indicated in an address to the nation: “I want to advise Venezuela that this is an opportunity for them to show maturity, an opportunity for them to show responsibility, and we call upon them once more [to] join us in … allowing the rule of law to work and to determine the outcome of this controversy,” (VOA, 12/5/23). President Ali informed the nation that a request for help was made to the United Nations and the United States, both who have spoken out against Maduro’s campaign.
The outcome of this effort is a clear signal to Maduro that the international community will not stand by and allow a despot to threaten the region’s political and economic stability. As a result of President Ali’s and his government’s efforts, we have seen strong statements from the entire international community condemning Maduro’s claim, including the United States, France, Canada, and the list goes on and on. The U.S. State Department said on Monday “it supports a peaceful resolution of the dispute and that a referendum could not solve the issue.” (Reuters, 12/5/23). Additionally, many international organizations, such as the United Nations, the Organization of American States, etc., have publicly denounced Maduro and called for the immediate halt of action against the sovereignty of the Guyanese people.
The Commonwealth stated that “Ahead of the planned referendum in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the 3rd of December, the Commonwealth offers its full support to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, a valued Commonwealth member, and is encouraged by the support also shown by our brothers and sisters in CARICOM, and by many other states (12/1/23). So, where does this leave Maduro? He has lost domestic support from his people and the international community in claiming Guyana’s land. Chances are that he will not give up and continue to saber rattle; as such, the Guyanese and their President should keep this issue in their vision while building robust international support.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tilokie Depoo