Venezuela is a few hours away from the conclusion of an unprecedented event in its political-electoral history: Holding a referendum in which Venezuelans will be consulted on an issue of historical importance, such as confirming the vote of their conviction about the sovereignty of the country of Guyana Esequiba, a territory intended to be seized by Guyana, in collaboration with the transnational oil company Exxon Mobil, which is also supported by the Government of the United States.
In the period between the session in which the number of the consultative referendum was proposed to the National Assembly and this period of counting, one of the most relevant moments was the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, during the Act of National Union in The Defense of Guayana Esequiba, held on November 7, held a pedagogical presentation on the historical, political, legal, economic, strategic, energy and geopolitical factors that support the claim of Venezuela in the area of 159 thousand 500 kilometers square they intended to be taken.
Historical factors
The President made a compendium of the main historical events that took place on the scene of the territorial dispute, beginning with the year 1536, “when Spain gave the governorship of New Andalusia in Guiana to Juan Espes, who had 200 leagues offshore and 300 leagues deep.”
In this part of the presentation, Maduro specified the following: “Because the territory of Venezuela belongs as a colony to Spain, and it publishes the limits of its colonies, and according to the map they publish, as Captain General of Venezuela, for In 1777, the eastern border of our territory is the Essequibo River and that includes all that now calls itself the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, when it was always Guyana Esequiba, and is an integral part of the aforementioned Captaincy General of Venezuela.
It is important to remember that this territory was ‘discovered’, on the third voyage of Columbus, by a crew member of one of the ships, Don Juan Esquivel, and to him it owes its name Essequibo.
The dissertation in this part concludes by referring to the year 1966, when the Geneva Agreement was signed on February 17, a key instrument for the defense of Venezuela, “obliging the parties to negotiate a satisfactory solution for the practical settlement of the controversy and the creation of a mixed Venezuelan-Guyanese commission was established in which the negotiations were entrusted,” the president recalled.
Political reasons
In this regard, the President explained that “since the time of our natives, Venezuela and its inhabitants have resisted colonization, leaving the mark of our anti-imperialist conviction.
The War of Independence proved it and re-affirmed the expansion of our territory, in every possible way.
Our anti-imperialist policy marks the existence of our ancestors and the present and future generations.
In this historical controversy, two models were opposed, the colonialist and the independentist. “That is the underlying political cause of this conflict.”
Legal reasons
The president argued that “they are supported by many documents and tacit facts that prove the integrity and expansion of our territories.
The map of what is the Captaincy General of Venezuela, our first and successive constitutions, the recognition of the world powers of our independence, without any opposition, confirms our original ownership.
The eastern border of Venezuela has always been located on the Essequibo River.
This is known, understood and understood by all judges who interact with our documentation.
Economic factors
This part of the exhibition is one of the most relevant, because the verification of the many deposits of oil and gas in Guyana Esequiba and its Atlantic façade, in addition to having immeasurable mineral wealth, including strategic coltan, is the main motivation of Guyana to annex the territory of the claim.
In this context, Maduro stated that “the great wealth of gold, uranium, gas, oil, diamonds, water, coltan and other minerals make Essequibo a territory of permanent lust, which they exploit, in another -different times, in controversy to win a game.
The United States tried to install an air base, which was strongly rejected by our commander, President Hugo Chávez, and recently the oil transnational Exxon Mobil did the same, placing a platform at sea in the territory which is the subject of controversy. , although Exxon Mobil, in September 2000, issued a letter to the Guyanese Minister of Petroleum, indicating that it withdrew from exploration because the concession received was in disputed territory, he stated in his speech.
Strategic reasons
The head of state maintains that the geographical location of Guayana Esequiba is the key to travel between South America, one of the places on the planet with the greatest natural wealth, and the Atlantic Ocean.
“Access to that area of contested land and sea guarantees access to the Atlantic and river access to the center of South America.
There is located the largest water reserve on the planet and direct access to the largest oil reserve in the world, the Hugo Chávez Oil Belt, which has more than 300 billion recoverable barrels of oil within it,” he commented.
Energy factors
In this part of the presentation, he stated that “since 1981, no new oil deposits have been discovered, no increase in demand and no alternative source of fuel has been seen, it is Venezuela and the Essequibo in dispute that is new Dorado, in a world that sees its energy sources dwindling every day, as a result of the rapid energy consumption that the imperial powers are not ready to reduce, and that sooner rather than later , inaugurated new forms of piracy, this time not for yellow gold, but for black gold, oil,” he said.
Geopolitical reasons
In this part, Maduro presented a series of reflections on the importance of the historical moment experienced by Venezuela in the consultative referendum, as a way to reaffirm the sovereignty of the country and also serve to consolidate peace and stability throughout Latin America.
“It has been proven a thousand times that Venezuela is not a threat, but a hope, as shown by our integrative actions, such as Petrocaribe, which frees the Caribbean from the madness of transnational oils ; ALBA, which sent the FTAA to hell; Unasur and Celac, all mechanisms of unity and liberation.
We have a historic role in spreading this truth around the world or seeing the dreams of our liberators crumble at the hands of four adventurers, who are able to kill and invade entire towns in the name of lies. that are positive, to get their hands on. our treasures and what is the most precious possession of any nation, its liberty and freedom!
“The acquisition and recovery of Essequibo must be a cause for all in America, because its loss is the beginning of new eras of conquest!” he exclaimed.
Six important moments in the struggle for our territory
President Nicolás Maduro added to his speech on November 7 by presenting six important historical moments to better understand the dispute that Venezuela has maintained, first with the British Empire, and then after the independence of the current Cooperative Republic in Guyana.
1.- Colonial and Independence period, from 1492 to 1840. The period of formation of the territory of Venezuela is reflected.
2.- Period of imperial aggression, usurpation and arbitration fraud (1840-1899). It began when the British Empire began its first attempts to enter the entire eastern territory of the Republic of Venezuela and ended with the falsification of the Arbitration Award.
3.- Time of imperial diplomacy in gunboats, from 1900 to 1966. Declaration of fraud and the Geneva Agreement. Venezuela went from a time of extreme weakness, of military invasions, to a time of awakening, criticisms and successes.
4.- Time to assume the Geneva Agreement, from 1966 to 2015. It covers the emergence of the State of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the defense of the historical rights of Venezuela.
5.- Time of violation of the Geneva Agreement. This is from 2015 till now. Guyana assumed a hostile position against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and negotiated with Exxon Mobil and the Southern Command and kicked the Geneva Agreement.
6.- Consultative referendum period, a new period today. It continues from this day forever.
