With tensions growing between Guyana and Venezuela, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn issued a warning today that there will be harsh consequences for any Guyanese or person residing in Guyana who pledges support for Venezuela’s planned elections for a Governor of Guyana’s Essequibo.

Despite the International Court’s 2023 Order that Venezuela refrains from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the Essequibo, whereby Guyana administers and exercises control over the area, the Venezuelan President has announced plans to host elections for a Governor of the region on the eve of Guyana’s 59th Independence anniversary.

Speaking at the Opening of the Guyana Police Force’s Inspectors and Sergeants Conference this morning, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn cautioned that there may be “sleepers” around who support the Venezuelan Government’s outrageous claims. He said those persons will face treason charges.

“We know that there are some sleepers here, we put out a few already, we know that Maduro is saying that as of the 23rd of May,  he will hold elections in Venezuela and he will appoint governor and other officials of Guayana Esequiba and I am saying today any person Guyanese or otherwise, if its a Guyanese who is appointed to be governor of Essquibo and be placed at Anna Regina, we will charge that person for treason and lock them up,” the Home Affairs Minister warned.

Mr. Benn said there is now a more cautious approach in dealing with persons coming from Venezuela. To buttress his point, he stated that the denial of a number of Venezuelan migrants yesterday from entering Guyana shows that more work is being done to vet those who are coming here. 

He said although there is still a relaxed policy for those with family ties here, any support for Venezuela’s elections plans for Guyana’s Essequibo will be met with consequences.

“They will be charge for treason and anybody who is supporting them will also be charged. The issue of the Essequibo and the settlement and the 1899 arbitral was settled a long time ago and they had no interest in it until they had political problems there and then when we found the oil,” Mr. Benn said.

Benn said the recent incursion in Guyana’s waters by a Venezuelan navy vessel and the shooting of six Guyanese soldiers near the Venezuelan border in the Cuyuni River were highly provocative and contributed to increased tensions.

‘The could come on the Cuyuni at Eterinbang for the purposes of innocent passage, same thing out in our Maritime Exclusive Economic Zone, only innocent passage, they dont have to come into our place, take off their AIS so we dont know where they are and intimidate people, it is not innocent passage,” Benn stated.

The Home Affairs Minister said Guyana continues to receive the support of the United States, United Kingdom, the EU and many other countries in defence of its territorial integrity.

Last week, Guyana approached the International Court seeking an order to block the Venezuelan Government from moving ahead with any planned election for a Governor for Guyana’s Essequibo.

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