CARICOM condemns Venezuela’s Essequibo election plans, attack on GDF soldiers

Leaders within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have condemned plans by Venezuela to hold elections in the Essequibo Region, which is more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass, urging the Spanish-speaking nation not to intrude on Guyana’s sovereign territory.
This call was made in a communique issued on Friday, following the 48th CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in Barbados last week, where Member States received an update on developments in the ongoing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

In the missive, regional leaders expressed grave concern over statements coming out of Venezuela, particularly as it relates to their intention to conduct elections in the Essequibo region of Guyana on April 27, 2025 for a “Governor” and “Legislative Council” of the so-called “Guayana Esequiba State,” which Venezuela illegally purported to “annex” last year.
“Heads of Government underscored that the convening of any such elections in Guyana’s territory would be contrary to general principles of international law, the United Nations (UN) Charter, the 1 December 2023, Order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the agreements reached in the Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace between Guyana and Venezuela. They urged Venezuela not to attempt to carry out elections, or to intrude in any other way, in Guyana’s sovereign territory,” the communique detailed.

The CARICOM leaders also condemned the February 17, 2025, attack perpetrated by an armed group of men from Venezuela on members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) while they were carrying out their lawful business along the Guyana/ Venezuela border.
Current Chair of CARICOM, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, has already condemned this recent attack, which has left six Guyanese soldiers injured. After the 15-member regional bloc wrapped up the three-day conference, PM Mottley was questioned at a February 21 press conference in Barbados about CARICOM’s position on the attack.
“A statement will go out condemning the shootings as well as continuing to express solidarity with Guyana,” the CARICOM Chair had stated.
On Monday, February 17, a heavily-armed group of suspected sindicato operatives from the Venezuelan territory opened fire on a GDF vessel, injuring six troops – all with gunshot wounds.
Second Lieutenant Ansel Murray, Sergeant Kevon Davis, Corporals Andrew Fraser, Kevin Henry, Lance Corporal Travis Yorrick, and Private Ezron Samuel were injured during the attack.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, had summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador to register Guyana’s outrage and demand redress. He also made it clear that Guyana is fully prepared to exercise its rights under international law to hold Venezuela accountable for the attack.
As investigation into the attack continues, Guyana has received reports that at least one member of the sindicato gang has died.
CARICOM’s support for Guyana’s sovereignty comes on the heels of President Ali stating that the country’s case has been robustly presented before the ICJ and that it has also “successfully enjoyed widespread support for the respect for our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
President Ali, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, outlined that efforts to defend Guyana’s territorial integrity have been paramount. He pointed to the selfless acts of the men and women in uniform, who have consistently demonstrated their sacrifices, their strength of character and their commitment to national duty and to the people of Guyana.
These traits, he added, were recently on display when several soldiers of the GDF came under attack by suspected sindicato operatives near the border with Venezuela.
President Ali’s statement comes amidst Venezuela’s claims of more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass in the Essequibo region and a portion of its EEZ (Exclusive economic zone), where an excess of 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels have been discovered over the past nearly 10 years.
Guyana had moved to the World Court, seeking a final and binding ruling of the 1899 Arbitral Award that determined the boundary between the two South American neighbours.
In Friday’s CARICOM communique, the Heads of Government welcomed Venezuela’s submission of its counter-memorial on April 8, 2024, on the merits of the case regarding the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award that had determined the boundary between then British Guiana and Venezuela, and the subsequent submission of the Reply by Guyana on December 9, 2024.
The regional leaders encouraged Venezuela to submit its Rejoinder, the final written pleading in the case, on August 8, 2025, in compliance with the Court’s scheduling order.
“They reiterated and underscored their unequivocal and unwavering support for the maintenance of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana and for the judicial process before the Court as the means for resolving the controversy peacefully, finally and in accordance with international law,” the CARICOM missive added.