Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday ordered the country’s state-owned companies to immediately issue licences to explore and develop oil, gas and mines in Guyana’s oil and mineral-rich Essequibo region.
Venezuela calls the area its own property. Maduro also unveiled a new map of Venezuela that depicts Essequibo as part of the country. A few hours earlier, he sent the military to Puerto Barima, close to the borders of the disputed territory, and announced the creation of a new military zone.
He also ordered the granting of Venezuelan citizenship to more than 125,000 Guyanese residing in the area.
The series of statements came a day after Maduro won a referendum in which more than 95 per cent of people backed Venezuela’s sovereignty over the 160,000 square kilometres (61,776 square miles) territory, raising concerns in Guyana. Its Attorney General Anil Nandlall stated on Tuesday that he would seek help from the UN Security Council if Venezuela took any action.
The territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana has intensified after ExxonMobil discovered its first oil field in the territory eight years ago. While Guyana claims that its border with Venezuela has been set by an arbitration tribunal in 1899, Venezuela argues that the Essequibo River forms a natural boundary recognised at the time of independence from Spain.
In April, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that it had the power to determine which country had rights to the territory. On Friday, the ICJ ordered the Venezuelan government to “refrain from any action that modifies the situation currently in force” in Essequibo, and for both sides to “refrain from any action that would aggravate or prolong the dispute.” Maduro, however, rejected the injunction.
Nandlall stated that Guyana would appeal to Articles 41 and 42 of the United Nations Charter, which authorise the Security Council to impose military action and sanctions.
On Sunday, thousands of Guyanese took to the streets to protest. They chanted slogans, such as “Essequibo belongs to Guyana,” and were waving the country’s flag.
