Guyana defends the border established by an arbitration court in Paris in 1899. Venezuela, in turn, is demanding the application of the Geneva Convention, signed with the United Kingdom in 1966 before Guyana’s independence, which recognizes Caracas’ claim.
In general, the population here claims that Esequibo is Venezuelan, as taught in schools; although the current language in the region is English.
Very few Venezuelans know Esequibo. To visit this place from Venezuela, you must cross the Brazilian state of Roraima, enter Guyana and then reach the territory that is the subject of the binational dispute.
Guyana, in turn, included Esequibo in the 1980 constitution and considered it its sovereign territory.
The Esequibo literally separates Venezuela and Guyana.
Bilateral fight
There are currently no popular demonstrations defending Esequibo’s cause. But on the political side, emotions are running high. President Nicolás Maduro proposed to his Guyanese counterpart Irfaan Ali a meeting of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), headquartered in the capital Georgetown, to resume the 1966 Geneva Convention and discuss the Esequibo controversy.