Guyanese authorities have requested the United Nations Security Council to review Venezuela s territorial claims over the oil-rich Essequibo region, under the jurisdiction of the former British colony since 1899, but which Caracas has annexed to all its official maps following a referendum last year.
British Minister for the Americas, Caribbean, and Overseas Territories David Rutley met Monday in Georgetown with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali to reaffirm the United Kingdom s support to the South American country in their controversy with Venezuela over the 160,000 km2 oil-rich Essequibo region.
The Brazilian Government of President Luiz Inácio Lula a Silva shall be sending a delegation headed by former Foreign Minister and current presidential advisor on international affairs Celso Amorim to Thursday s meeting between the leaders of Guyana and Venezuelan in St Vincent and the Grenadines to discuss the Guiana Essequiba issue, it was reported in Brasilia.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Tuesday announced the creation of a military division for the Guiana Essequiba area, which the country claims as its own, particularly after Sunday s referendum, it was reported in Caracas. The Essequibo is home to 125,000 of Guyana s 800,000 citizens.