The vote shows “overwhelming” support for the Guyana region’s claim

Venezuelan electoral authorities claimed on Sunday that 95 percent of voters in a non-binding referendum approved the country’s territorial claim to a large portion of neighboring oil-rich Guyana’s territory.

President Nicolas Maduro hailed what he described as “an overwhelming victory for ‘yes’ throughout Venezuela.”

About 10.5 million votes were cast by Venezuela’s 20.7 million eligible voters, said Elvis Amoruso, president of the National Electoral Council.

The referendum raised concerns in Guyana and throughout the region about Venezuela’s ultimate intentions over the disputed region.

Maduro, who will seek re-election next year amid a dire economic crisis, hopes the referendum result will strengthen his country’s century-old claim to the oil-rich Essequibo region ruled by Guyana.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said in an evening speech broadcast on state television, “Today is the day of ratification of national sovereignty, and the people did it with all flying colours.”

In Guyana, thousands of people, some wearing T-shirts reading “Essequibo belongs to Guyana,” formed human chains in solidarity with their government, and their president offered assurances that the country’s borders were secure.

Maduro’s government has said it is not seeking a justification to invade or annex the vast region, as some fear in Guyana, a former English-speaking British colony.

Regardless of the outcome of the vote, not much will change in the short term: the people of Essequibo will not vote, and the referendum is non-binding.

But tensions have escalated since Guyana bid last September for several offshore oil exploration blocks, and after a major new discovery was announced in October. Its oil reserves are similar to those of Kuwait, which has the highest per capita reserves in the world.

Meanwhile, Maduro’s government released a video on Sunday suggesting that some Guyanese prefer to be under Venezuelan rule.

It purports to show a group of adult Pimon indigenous people in Guyana lowering the country’s flag and raising the Venezuelan flag in its place. One begins singing the Venezuelan national anthem.

– ‘nothing to fear’ –

Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said on Sunday that his government was working to protect the country’s borders and keep people safe.

“I want to assure Guyanese that there is nothing to be afraid of,” Ali said in a letter posted on Facebook.

Venezuela has claimed the vast Essequibo province for decades – even though its 160,000 square kilometers (62,000 square miles) account for more than two-thirds of Guyana, and its population of 125,000 represents a fifth of Guyana’s total population.

Caracas asserts that the Essequibo River to the east of the region is the natural border between the two countries, as it was declared in 1777 under Spanish rule, and that Britain wrongly seized Venezuelan lands in the nineteenth century.

However, Guyana maintains that the border was demarcated in the British colonial era and was confirmed in 1899 by an arbitration court. It says that the International Court of Justice, the highest judicial body in the United Nations, has ratified this finding.

Guyana asked the International Court of Justice to prevent the referendum. But while the court on Friday urged Caracas not to take any action that might affect the disputed area, it did not mention such action.

The referendum covers five questions, including proposals to create a Venezuelan province called “Guiana Essequibo,” granting its residents Venezuelan citizenship, as well as a call to reject the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said from Dubai, where he is attending the COP28 environment conference, that the referendum “will likely lead to the result that Maduro desires.” But “I hope common sense will prevail.”

In Guyana, some locals downplayed the importance of voting.

“Maybe the referendum is important for them, for Venezuela, but not for us,” said Dilip Singh, a businessman who lives in the disputed region.

“I grew up in Essequibo,” he said, adding: “It was never occupied by the Spanish – not at any time in our history… Now it is independent, and it always will be.”

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