Venezuela firmly condemns CARICOM Secretary General Carla Barnett’s statement on the disputed Venezuelan territory of the Esequibo, reaffirming sovereignty and rejecting external interference in accordance with the Geneva Agreement.

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On May 26, 2025, Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez publicly denounced the recent comments made by CARICOM Secretary General Carla Barnett regarding the ongoing territorial dispute over the Venezuelan territory of the Esequibo. Rodríguez accused Barnett of acting as an agent for ExxonMobil rather than representing the collective voice of Caribbean nations.

The Venezuelan government reiterated its unwavering commitment to resolving the dispute exclusively through the Geneva Agreement, rejecting any external meddling that undermines national sovereignty.

Vice President Rodríguez emphasized that the dispute over the Guayana Esequiba region must be settled strictly within the framework of the Geneva Agreement, dismissing any attempts at external intervention. “There is no room for anyone’s interference! The sun of Venezuela rises in the Esequibo!” she declared emphatically via her official Telegram channel.

The text reads: Venezuela rejects the insolent statements of CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett, who acts as an employee of ExxonMobil and does not represent the voice of all CARICOM countries. The territorial dispute over the Esequibo is to be resolved through negotiations under the Geneva Agreement. There is no room for anyone’s interference! The sun of Venezuela rises in the Esequibo!

This strong stance reflects the Bolivarian government’s insistence on defending its territorial integrity against foreign influence and corporate interests seeking to exploit the region’s natural resources.

CARICOM’s Position Questioned by Venezuelan Authorities

The Venezuelan government expressed strong disapproval of Barnett’s statement, which described the border controversy as a “constant concern” for CARICOM countries. Caracas interprets this as an imposition of a foreign viewpoint that disregards established diplomatic protocols.

By labeling Barnett as an ExxonMobil affiliate, Venezuela highlights the perceived collusion between multinational corporations and regional actors to undermine Venezuelan sovereignty and the legitimate claims over the disputed territory of the Esequibo.

During the recent gubernatorial and legislative elections, President Nicolás Maduro reaffirmed Venezuela’s position on the Guayana Esequiba, celebrating the victory of Neil Villamizar, the elected representative of the people living in the Esequibo region.

Maduro underscored the importance of guaranteeing full rights to the inhabitants of the Venezuelan territory of the Esequibo and pledged increased budgetary support to strengthen Venezuela’s presence in the region. The Bolivarian Republic remains steadfast in its diplomatic efforts to ensure the Guayana Esequiba is recognized as an integral part of Venezuelan territory, defending its sovereignty against all forms of external pressure.

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