Tensions rise as Venezuela's territorial vote unsettles Guyana residents
Guyana's Essequibo region, which is larger than Greece and rich in oil and minerals, is at the center of a territorial dispute with Venezuela. The Venezuelan government plans to hold a referendum to decide the future of the region, including turning it into a Venezuelan state. Guyana sees this as annexation and has asked the International Court of Justice to halt parts of the vote. The majority of area residents, who are Indigenous people, feel neglected and uninformed about the dispute. The disputed boundary was decided by international arbitrators in 1899, but Venezuela has long disputed it. The court is expected to issue a decision this week, but a ruling on the broader border dispute is still years away.
