Guyana’s Indigenous people impacted the most by Venezuela’s aggressions- Sukhai tells Extraordinary Parliamentary sitting

The peaceful living of Guyana’s Indigenous people- particularly those who reside in border communities- has been threatened by Venezuela, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai told an extraordinary sitting of the National Assembly on Monday.

Sukhai told fellow lawmakers that the movement of the Venezuela military and possibly, arsenal near the border shared with Guyana is a cause for concern. And she said Guyana’s government has already flagged this.

But as Guyana awaits a final, binding judgement on the border controversy from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Minister Sukhai said the Indigenous people are living under intimidation.

“Venezuela has now gone beyond provocation.

“In the northwestern corner of Guyana, mainly Amerindians live there. They live under intimidation and heightened tension… (and) they will be impacted the most,” Sukhai said.

She added, “This will continue if Venezuela is allowed to continue to fuel this controversy.

“In reality, it is a big concern for peace and stability in the border communities.”

Sukhai, like all of her colleagues who spoke at the extraordinary Parliamentary sitting, rejected Venezuela’s actions and denounced a planned referendum which some fear may be used as the basis for a Venezuelan plan to annex Guyana’s Essequibo region.

And she called on all lawmakers to unite against Venezuela aggressions, and urged the international community to continue supporting Guyana’s bid to get a final, binding judgement in keeping with international law.

The extraordinary sitting was organised as a means for the lawmakers to denounce Venezuela’s December 3, 2023 referendum. Guyana has since approached the ICJ, seeking an injunction to prevent Venezuela from taking action through its provocative referendum over Guyana’s territory – Essequibo.

The borders of Guyana and Venezuela were determined by an arbitral tribunal on October 3, 1899, and Venezuela inherited 13,000 square kilometres of Guyana’s territory (then under British rule).