Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance of Guyana, Gail Teixeira has called out the Venezuelan government’s public relations (PR) machinery for churning out videos of children and soldiers singing the spurious claim to Essequibo, an area of Guyana representing a reported two-thirds of the country’s territory.
During a special House Sitting yesterday, the Minister condemned the propaganda emanating from Guyana’s western neighbour. She said that even as Guyanese legislators debate, videos have been released in Venezuela showing children and soldiers marching and singing about Essequibo belonging to Venezuela. The Minister said that these videos are being used to deceive Venezuelans into voting for the boycotting of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as the rightful determiner of the dispute and the seizing of the Essequibo. She posited as well, that the Nicolas Maduro government has intensified its claim to the area as a political gimmick to secure re-election at the country’s 2024 election.
“Two songs have come out of Venezuela. One was with some beautiful children singing Essequibo belongs to them. Of course, these are particularly orchestrated PR campaigns to carry out psychological warfare on the Guyanese People.
The second song that came out was showing Venezuelan soldiers – not in combat clothes but in uniform – singing and marching and so and so, that Essequibo is theirs. So, we are in a situation where Venezuela is also using these (videos) to galvanise and mobilise their people to go vote on December 3 and also vote at the elections in 2024,” the Minister noted.
The government’s Chief Whip also called on Venezuelans to not be hoodwinked into supporting an action from which no benefit can be derived. She said that the country is already reeling from economic hardships and that the intended actions of their government will only make things worse.
