Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has rejected Venezuela’s “illegal” move to create a new map, which includes the Guyana Essequibo region.

Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro has sought to justify the extension of the map, saying it was a mandate given to him by the people in last Sunday’s referendum.

But that move now poses a threat to Guyana’s territorial integrity.

Already there are concerns that it could open the floodgates to Venezuelan gangs crossing over at the bordering locations.

During a press conference on Thursday Vice President Jagdeo said Guyana does not recognize any extension of the Venezuelan map to include Guyana’s territory.

“We know what our borders are, and any incursion by anyone, including from by criminal gangs, will be dealt with by our security forces, so are watching this carefully,” Mr. Jagdeo told reporters this afternoon.

Additionally, Mr. Jagdeo said while there is the general view that the majority of the migrants who have come over from Venezuela are peaceful, he does not discount that many of them may have ill-intent towards Guyana.

“So we are not turning a blind eye to that too, our security forces are looking at that, we are looking at every possible threat to our country and our people, which can be exploited by the Maduro regime,” the Vice President said.

The Vice President maintains that Guyana will be working to ensure that the controversy is resolved peacefully, but added that the country will not said idly by and let Venezuela have its way and implement actions that threaten Guyana’s territorial integrity.

With the UN Security Council expected to deliberate on the issue today, Mr. Jagdeo said he anticipates a favorable outcome, even as he acknowledged that Guyana’s strategic partners are keeping a keen eye on the developments.

Related posts:

Venezuela will never succeed in changing Guyana’s boundaries -VP Jagdeo tells Essequibo residents Venezuelan referendum on Guyana’s Essequibo is contrary to international law -says Commonwealth SG Guyana Government rejects Venezuela’s referendum seeking to make Guyana’s Essequibo a Venezuelan state; International Community alerted Government will respect international human rights commission’s ruling on Chinese Landing illegal mining issue -says VP Jagdeo