Businesses in the Guyanese town on the border are experiencing normality
Christmas decorations with snowmen, pine trees and reindeer contrast with the almost 40°C heat and dominate the shops. Otherwise, nothing has changed in Lethem, a town on the border with Brazil in Guyana, since Venezuela toughened its statements regarding the ownership of Essequibo, a region administered by Guyana.
Known as a “shopping paradise,” the town of Lethem is in the Essequibo region, and even in the face of an impending confrontation between the two countries, local traders report normalcy.
“The shopping paradise continues,” he said g1 Roraima businessman Oném Cruz, 42 years old, who has owned a fitness supplement store in Lethem for nine years.
1 of 19 Lethem on the GuyanaBrazil border is known for attracting Brazilians for shopping Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Lethem on the GuyanaBrazil border is known for attracting Brazilians for shopping Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR
Lethem has around 2,850 inhabitants and borders the municipality of Bonfim, a Brazilian town north of Roraima. The nickname “shopping paradise” for Brazilians is due to the fact that tax laws in Guyana are far less strict. This means that passenger traffic between the two communities is always constant.
2 of 19 Map shows the city of Lethem in Guyana Photo: Arte g1 Map shows the city of Lethem in Guyana Photo: Arte g1
g1 was in Lethem this Wednesday (13), a day before the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, met with the Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to talk about Essequibo, and saw up close the intense movement of Brazilians who are working on it were interested in shopping in stores in Guyana.
3 of 19 Guyanese flags are spread throughout the town of Lethem Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Guyana's flags are spread across the whole town of Lethem Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR
Right at the entrance to Lethem, a billboard announced the country's position regarding the conflict: “Essequibo belongs to Guyana” “Essequibo belongs to Guyana”. In addition, flags spread on streets and shops showed the country's nationalist mood.
The report spoke to Brazilian and Guyanese traders and sellers living in the city. Everyone reports normality, even after days of political tension between the two countries.
“The atmosphere in the city, among the residents and the people who work here, is super calm. Initially there was this concern because of the impact of the news, the rumors. But as far as coexistence is concerned, it is everyone's habit, everything is calm,” said Alan Monteiro, another Brazilian trader, 42 years old, who lives in Lethem.
4 of 19 Alan Monteiro, 42 years old, comes from Amazonas and is a dealer in Lethem, Guyana Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Alan Monteiro, 42 years old, comes from Amazonas and is a dealer in Lethem, Guyana Photo: Caíque Rodrigues /g1 RR
In addition, signs with a photo of President Irfaan Ali with slogans preaching Guyana's unity: “We are committed to the common goal of bringing prosperity to every home” said one of them in English.
Guyana and Venezuela have been fighting over the Essequibo region for almost 200 years. The case has been pending at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) since 2018 after Guyana appealed because it did not believe it could negotiate better with Venezuela in a conciliatory manner.
5 of 19 stores in Guyana have normal movement despite tensions in Venezuela through Essequibo Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Stores in Guyana have normal movement despite tensions in Venezuela through Essequibo Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR
“Shopping paradise continues”
There is a Christmas atmosphere in the variety shop, which is run by the Brazilian Alan Monteiro. Among the staff scattered among the items printed with the Guyanese flag, he said there was “calm” among the city’s residents and those who work there. However, it is not the possibility of war that worries them, but rather the fake news and misinformation about the conflict circulating in the city.
6 of 19 Christmas decorations on the facade of shops in Lethem, Guyana Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Christmas decorations on the facade of shops in Lethem, Guyana Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR
“Fake news is disruptive. In fact, they have had an impact, even if only to a small extent,” he says of what he has heard from clients who express fear of conflict. “This unfounded fear of going through any situation,” he told g1.
7 of 19 The movement continues the same way in the Guyanese city that borders Roraima, Brazil Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR The movement continues the same way in the Guyanese city that borders Roraima, Brazil Photo: Caíque Rodrigues /g1 RR
According to Alan, there was a slight decrease in bus trips from Manaus to Lethem for shopping in the city for a few days, but now everything has returned to normal.
“People come here and see that everything is normal and shopping trips are happening again,” he said.
8 of 19 Oníssimo Cruz, is 42 years old and has been a businessman in Lethem for 9 years Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Oníssimo Cruz, is 42 years old and has been a businessman in Lethem for 9 years Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR
The businessman from Roraima Oném Cruz also reiterated the everyday atmosphere in the border region: “completely peaceful and within the framework of normality”.
Oníssimo Cruz said that customers from Boa Vista and Manaus even sent him messages on social media asking whether there was a war atmosphere in Lethem and whether it was safe to go to the store to buy the products. Now he hopes for “international common sense” between the two countries.
“The real problem is misinformation and we count on the support of the entire population. We receive news on our social networks every day as fake news is spreading rapidly. There is also an atmosphere of peace and normality here in Lethem.”
“There are many requests on social media from Brazilians asking if the weather is peaceful and calm. People walk down the street and don't see anything unusual. In fact, there is even a good relationship with the Venezuelans who live here. The shopping paradise continues,” said the businessman.
9 of 19 Camila Griffth, 26, is a saleswoman at a technology store in Lethem, Guyana Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Camila Griffth, 26, is a saleswoman at a technology store in Lethem, Guyana Photo: Caíque Rodrigues /g1 RR
Roraima saleswoman Camila Griffth, 26, who works at a technology store, also said customers sent her messages asking if the weather in Lethem was safe. She emphasized that nothing deviated from normality in the city.
“A customer of ours even sent a message from Manaus asking how it was. If they really invaded, she even sent a fake photo. I said, “No, madam, there is no way to invade now, things don't happen like that.” “The border isn't even closed,” he commented.
10 out of 19 Brazilians shop in stores in Lethem, on the border between Guyana and Brazil Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Brazilians shop in stores in Lethem, on the border between Guyana and Brazil Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR
Camila Griffth says she's not afraid of what could happen, but says she knows some Venezuelans who live in Lethem who are afraid.
“Nothing has changed here. The movement remains the same as it always was. But I feel that the Venezuelans who live here are scared and cornered, as the majority are afraid of suffering from xenophobia in this climate of tension between their homeland from them and the current country, in which they live. It's complicated.
“In fact, there is no hostility towards the Venezuelans living here,” the saleswoman emphasized.
11 of 19 Rosana Silva, 53 years old, is Guyanese and has lived in Lethem for 21 years Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Rosana Silva, 53 years old, is Guyanese and has lived in Lethem for 21 years Photo: Caíque Rodrigues /g1 RR
Guyanese businesswoman Rosana Silva, 53, has lived in the border town for 21 years. She is married to a Brazilian and therefore speaks Portuguese fluently. Rosana owns a complex of commercial properties in the city and says nothing has changed since Essequibo became an international topic of discussion.
“This argument has always existed and they talk and even the authorities try to guide us. They tell us to stay calm, not to leave the house, to keep shops open and so on. “So they calm the population here.”
“All is calm. Everything is under control, no one has left their homes, no one has closed their businesses. Everything is open and regular, there is no problem,” he told g1.
12 of 19 Monument at the entrance to Lethem in Guyana, known as a “shopping paradise” Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Monument at the entrance to Lethem in Guyana, known as a “shopping paradise” Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR
g1 spoke to two Lethem residents who were born in Guyana. In English they said they were calm and not afraid of the war, although as Guyanese they felt threatened. 43yearold saleswoman Cyntia Francis spoke about the country's president's stance on maintaining a climate of peace. She credits him with why Lethem continues to keep the stores open.
13 of 19 stickers on the walls of Lethem reinforce the position that Essequibo belongs to Guyana Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Stickers on the walls of Lethem reinforce the position that Essequibo belongs to Guyana Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR
“So we have to stay strong for our Guyana. Essequibo belongs to Guyana, Essequibo belongs to us. The President said that all Guyanese must stand together for our country,” the saleswoman told g1.
Housewife Teresa Mensing, 62, was born and lives in Lethem. She says she no longer sees any difference since the conflict began.
14 of 19 Teresa Mensing, 62, is a housewife and was born in Lethem, Guyana Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Teresa Mensing, 62, is a housewife and was born in Lethem, Guyana Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR
“The people of Guyana remain united as Guyanese through all of this. I see it by listening to everyone. People express their opinions and I know, I feel, I experience the unity that we are becoming.”
15 of 19 Billboard with a message from the President of Guyana, Mojamed Irfaan, in Lethem, on the border with Brazil Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Outdoor with a message from the President of Guyana, Mojamed Irfaan, in Lethem, on the border with Brazil Brazil Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR
The Essequibo region covers an area of 160,000 km² about 70% of Guyana's current area and has oil reserves estimated at 11 billion barrels. The area is larger than that of nations such as England, Cuba or Greece.
16 of 19 Essequibo region, in the dispute between Venezuela and Guyana, and the Brazilian border in the state of Roraima — Photo: Arte g1 Essequibo region, in the dispute between Venezuela and Guyana, and the Brazilian border in the state of Roraima — Photo: Art g1 17 of 19 Border between Brazil and Guyana, on the bridge over the Tacutu River Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Brazil's border with Guyana, on the bridge over the Tacutu River Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR
Venezuela considers Essequibo, also called Guayana Esequiba in Spanish, a “claimed territory” and generally shows it crossed out on its maps. Guyana, which controls and administers the territory, now has six of its ten administrative regions there.
The countries have been fighting over the region since 1841. In 2015, the dispute intensified when the American company ExxonMobil discovered oil fields in the region.
- Guyana claims ownership of the territory because there is a report prepared in Paris in 1899 that established the current boundaries. At the time, Guyana was a territory of the United Kingdom.
- Venezuela claims the territory belongs to it because this is stipulated in an agreement signed with the United Kingdom itself in 1966, before Guyana's independence, which annulled the arbitration award and laid the basis for a negotiated settlement.
18 of 19 Monument with the inscription “One Guyana”, “Uma Guiana”, in translation, in the center of Lethem Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Monument with the inscription “One Guyana”, “Uma Guiana”, in translation, in Center of Lethem Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR 19 of 19 Prints with the Guyanese flag can be found throughout the town of Lethem, including on lampposts Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR Prints with the Guyanese flag can be found throughout the town of Lethem can be found, including on the post Photo: Caíque Rodrigues/g1 RR