Guyanese Indigenous leaders reject Venezuela’s claims of election preparations in Essequibo

Hundreds of Toshaos (Traditional Indigenous Leaders) and Indigenous representatives, many from the Essequibo region, have rejected claims that communities in Essequibo were gathered for the presentation of candidates for the upcoming regional and parliamentary elections announced by Venezuela.

A statement, issued by the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC), a legitimate and elected body representing Guyana’s Indigenous peoples, categorically dismissed the false reports surrounding Venezuela’s alleged election preparations.

Venezuela has indicated plans to hold elections in the disputed Essequibo region on May 25, 2025, referring to it as “Guayana Esequiba.” However, the NTC firmly rejected the claims made by Mr. Diosdado Cabello, General Secretary of Venezuela’s United Socialist Party, who suggested that community assemblies were held in Essequibo on March 15, 2025, to present proposals for election candidates. Cabello also claimed that 131,902 names were nominated across approximately 47,000 assemblies, with an estimated turnout of over five million participants.

The National Toshaos’ Council has vehemently denied these figures, calling them “completely false.” They confirmed that no such community assemblies took place in the Essequibo region. The NTC further criticised Cabello’s statements, describing them as not only inaccurate but as a demonstration of his lack of understanding of the Essequibo region. The numbers cited in Cabello’s claims, they argued, far exceed what would be logistically possible in the region.

The statement also highlighted that Venezuela has not initiated any election-related activities in Essequibo, noting that any such actions would be a clear violation of Guyana’s sovereignty.

The NTC concluded by reiterating their firm stance that Essequibo is an integral part of Guyana, reaffirming the country’s territorial integrity and rejecting Venezuela’s territorial claims over the region.