Anyone supporting annexing of Guyana’s Essequibo will be charged, jailed – Benn

Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn has sent a strong message to individuals in the country who may be in support of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro’s unlawful plan to annex Guyana’s Essequibo region.

“We know that there are some sleepers [secret agents] here, we put out a few already…any person, Guyanese or otherwise, if it’s a Guyanese who is appointed to be governor of Essequibo…we will charge that person for treason and lock them up, each and every one of them…and anybody who supporting them will also be charged,” Benn declared on Wednesday.

He was at the time addressing members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) during the opening ceremony of the Inspectors’ and Sergeants’ Conference.

Venezuela plans to hold elections for a governor and other leaders of Guyana’s Essequibo region on May 25, 2025.

Just a few days ago, Guyana approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking provisional measures to block Venezuela from proceeding with its planned elections in Essequibo – two-thirds of Guyana’s national territory.

Guyana is requesting that the World Court order Venezuela to refrain from any acts within or affecting its sovereign territory, including the Essequibo region.

This is the second time Guyana has sought provisional measures from the Court, which is currently hearing a case to settle the decades-long border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

Back in December 2023, Guyana had approached the World Court after Venezuela’s threat to seize and annex Guyana’s Essequibo region. In response, the ICJ had ordered Venezuela to refrain from any actions to disturb Guyana’s administration and control of that territory pending the conclusion of the case.

Just a few weeks ago, six members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) came under attack by Venezuelan men on the border. The attack injured the six troops, all with gunshot wounds. Reports indicated that some of the Venezuelan men died, after Guyana’s soldiers returned fire.

According to Benn, “I’m glad somehow that the army men shoot back better at them because I think two or three of them died.”

Lauding the soldiers for their bravery, Benn encouraged other servicemen that “when we’re out there, we have to do our job properly.”