Reference is made to Genevieve Glatsky’s May 25 New York Times article entitled “Venezuela Plans Vote for Disputed Oil-Rich Territory”, which contains several critical inaccuracies.
First, Essequibo is not “oil-rich.” All commercially viable oil discoveries lie offshore, in the eastern and southeastern parts of the Stabroek Block, east of the Essequibo River delta and well outside the area claimed by Venezuela. Mischaracterizing this land region as oil-rich contributes to a misleading geopolitical narrative.
Second, the assertion that Essequibo was “a remote outpost under Spanish rule” is historically inaccurate. There is no credible evidence of sustained Spanish presence, such as trading posts, military installations, or missionary activity, in the Essequibo region. Essequibo was a Dutch colony from the early 17th century. Under the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814, the Netherlands formally ceded Essequibo (along with Demerara and Berbice) to Britain. These territories were later consolidated into British Guiana in 1831, which gained independence as Guyana in 1966.
Third, Venezuela’s claim that the 1899 Arbitral Award is invalid due to a “secret deal” has never been substantiated. Venezuela participated in the 1899 arbitration and accepted its outcome at the time. The notion of a “secret deal” between Russia and Britain was introduced decades later in a posthumously published memorandum by Venezuelan lawyer Severo Mallet-Prevost. Historians have widely debated the document’s credibility, but it does not invalidate the arbitral award, which remains the legal basis for Guyana’s internationally recognized border with Venezuela. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), currently adjudicating the matter, considers the award binding.
Finally, the suggestion, attributed to Phil Gunson in the article, that Guyana might concede territory or oil revenues to Venezuela is implausible. There is no indication that the Government of Guyana or its citizens would support such a move. Public sentiment overwhelmingly supports defending national sovereignty and upholding the 1899 Arbitral Award. Notably, Venezuela has illegally occupied half of Ankoko Island, located in the Cuyuni River, since October 1966, a violation of Guyana’s territorial integrity that remains unresolved.
The article’s framing risks legitimizing Venezuela’s unlawful May 25 elections in Essequibo, which the ICJ has explicitly ordered to be halted. In a conflict this volatile, precision is essential.
Sincerely,
Terrence Richard Blackman, Ph.D.
Medgar Evers College, CUNY
Andre Brandli, Ph.D.
Ludwig-Maximilians-University
