Venezuelan Electoral Council Accredits First Governor of Guayana Esequiba
Neil Villamizar, May 28, 2025. X/ @misaidaoropeza
May 28, 2025 Hour: 12:18 pm
Admiral Neil Villamizar emerged victorious in the regional elections held on Sunday.
On Wednesday, the National Electoral Council (CNE) accredited Admiral Neil Villamizar as the first governor of Guayana Esequiba, Venezuela’s newly established 24th state.
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His proclamation as governor completes the process of fulfilling the Venezuelan people’s mandate expressed in the consultative referendum held on Dec. 3, 2023, when more than 10.5 million citizens voted in favor of defending Venezuelan sovereignty over the Essequibo.
On Sunday, Villamizar secured overwhelming support from the people of the Essequibo region, winning more than 97% of the vote in the regional elections.
He is a senior officer in the Venezuelan Navy with a distinguished military career. He graduated from the Venezuelan Naval Academy in 1991 and has held several key positions, including commander of the Navy’s Submarine Squadron and the AB Sabalo S-31 submarine.
From 2019 to 2021, he led the Navy’s fleet and later commanded the Maritime and Insular Strategic Defense Region, overseeing Venezuela’s maritime and island territories. In July 2023, Villamizar was appointed commander general of the Navy, underscoring his prominent role in the country’s naval operations.
The text reads, “Guyana Esequiba has a revolutionary governor! Neil Villamizar represents Venezuelan sovereignty.”
In 2025, the Great Patriotic Pole Simon Bolivar alliance nominated Admiral Villamizar as its candidate for the governorship of Guayana Esequiba, a 160,000-square-kilometer, resource-rich territory at the center of a longstanding dispute between Venezuela and Guyana.
“There comes the admiral,” “The admiral has arrived,” and “I’m with the admiral,” were some of the chants echoed by voters in Venezuelan parishes during the elections, where 16 officials were elected to represent the state of Guayana Esequiba.
Villamizar, 55, described himself as “a hardworking, perseverant man with a strong sense of patriotism.” His party colleagues characterize him as “intelligent, a strategist,” and someone with “discipline” for work.
He said his connection to the Essequibo predates his appointment as head of government for the area, as his military training led him to participate in land and sea operations in the region.
Additionally, his close contact with residents of San Isidro and Dalla Costa made him a popular figure, particularly for wearing a blue jacket emblazoned with the phrase: “The Essequibo Is Ours.”
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: EFE – VTV – CNE
