Venezuela: Resolve Internal Issues, Respect Guyana

Maduro Administration should focus on Venezuelan votes and leave Essequibo to Guyana. With so much to fix within their internationally recognized borders and Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro fighting tooth and nail for the continuation of presidency, it is a wonder how his people still find the time to create committees and special commissions with the singular purpose of coveting the Essequibo region.

Nicholas Maduro Campaigning for Upcoming Venezuela National Elections - AP Photo

At present about 21 million Venezuelans registered to vote in the July 28 elections. However, an estimated four million of these eligible voters are believed to be among the 7.7 million people who were part of the mass exodus since Nicolas Maduro became president in 2013.

What is even more ridiculous is the fact that these power hungry politicians rather than focusing on ensuring that Venezuelans oversee are able to cast their ballots later this month they instead plot and scheme to take Guyana’s oil-rich Essequibo.

According to some international news outlets, a mere 69 thousand Venezuelans who reside abroad managed to meet the criteria to get registered to vote on July 28. That is three million, nine hundred and thirty one thousand (3,931,000) who will not be able to decide on who they want to lead their country for the next six years.

Instead Maduro’s toadies continue to work tirelessly to steal the election in Venezuela and even managed to block the duly elected Opposition leader, Maria Corina Marchado. This scheme eventually backfired and now the Venezuelan Opposition has united behind candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urratia, and so too will the plan to steal the Essequibo region from Guyana.

Edmundo Gonzalez Urratia - AP Photo

Political pundits have forecasted that Maduro and his administration are likely to make a trick play for Essequibo around time of the election to use as a distraction to the people at home and internationally if (and even when) the numbers do not favor the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali and his predecessors have stated that they have every intention of abiding by the ruling of the International Court of Justice on the fate of the Essequibo.

Even now Guyana’s remains to be a peaceful, law-abiding neighbor, however, Venezuela should not misinterpret Guyana’s restraint for weakness.