‘We need to stand together’ – Jagdeo slams Venezuela’s purported elections for E/bo region

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo slammed Venezuela’s attempts to hold an election for Guyana’s Essequibo region on Sunday, a move he says is being pursued by the Nicolas Maduro administration to “deflect” from issues in the Spanish-speaking nation.

“Venezuela will go ahead with it because this is Maduro’s way of deflecting from all of his concerns at home, raised by people at home, and there are many concerns,” Jagdeo said at his weekly press conference on Thursday.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has told Venezuela that it shall refrain from conducting elections or preparing to conduct elections in the Essequibo region.

However, the Vice President said all Guyanese must remain united in defence of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“We, as a nation, need to stand together against this fraudulent regime and their fraudulent elections in the Essequibo region, or that they purport for the Essequibo region,” he said, urging people to cease spreading any Venezuelan propaganda.

Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said not a single inch of Guyanese territory will be surrendered, now or ever. Guyana’s political leaders have been united in their stance against Venezuela’s attempts to conduct these elections and other actions that increase tensions between the two states.

Meanwhile, the Vice President also backed statements from Guyana’s Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan. That is, any Venezuelan in Guyana who votes in that election will be “deported immediately.”

And if Guyanese participate in the “treasonous act,” Jagdeo said they will face consequences.

Venezuela had announced that it intends to hold elections in Guyana’s Essequibo for which it has administered for over 100 years, a territory that has been claimed by Venezuela.

Guyana maintains that Essequibo is an integral part of its sovereign territory, a position upheld by the ICJ in its December 2023 ruling. So the Venezuelan election plan, scheduled for May 25, 2025, is seen by Guyana as a direct violation of the ICJ’s orders and international law.