For the past weeks, the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) has been monitoring the increased Venezuelan propaganda and sham of a referendum seeking to take control of the Essequibo Region – where the majority of Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples reside.
From time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have been occupying a large part of the Essequibo Region and hold that territory sacred. The APA, and we are certain that every Indigenous person residing in the Essequibo Region, holds firm to the belief that Essequibo rightfully belongs to Guyana.
Therefore, we stand in solidarity with the Government of Guyana as it continues to advocate, per international law, for its sovereign territory to be respected. Additionally, the APA also supports the Guyanese Government’s right to defend its territory and people.
As an Indigenous rights advocacy body, the APA has been in constant communication with its representatives and leaders, especially in the bordering communities, to exchange information. We can report that the general atmosphere is one of uncertainty owing to the lack of adequate and timely dissemination of information. In this regard, the APA remains hopeful that an aggressive information campaign, executed by capable personnel, be embarked upon to ease the worry of Guyanese in the Essequibo Region.
The APA is cognizant of the fact that while a majority of Indigenous Peoples occupy the Essequibo Region, Guyanese of all ethnicity also call Essequibo home. Therefore, it is imperative that this territory be protected by all means necessary since we are now faced with Venezuela’s President Nicholas Maduro making administrative declarations on their intentions on the occupation and use of the Essequibo Region and its resources.
Over the weeks leading up to Venezuela’s ill-conceived referendum, we have seen reports aimed at misinforming the public and creating mischief. We remain hopeful that there be more emphasis placed on ensuring that accurate information is transmitted in a format that is easily understood by our Indigenous Peoples. In our information exchanges with communities and leaders, it is clear that many do not understand the complexity of the information in the public domain owing to the fact that English is not the first language of many of our Indigenous Peoples.
Therefore, the APA stands ready to support the authorities with the simplification of information in a manner that is digestible for Indigenous Peoples.
The historical fact is that Indigenous Peoples have occupied the Essequibo Region from time immemorial, especially the frontier communities on the Guyana Venezuela border which are at higher risk of exposure to any aggression, and therefore should be protected and kept informed in the face of disinformation or uncertainties.
