Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, issued a stern warning on Wednesday that any Guyanese who expresses support for Venezuela’s upcoming elections in the Essequibo region will be charged with treason. The warning comes as the Government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has announced plans to hold elections for the Governor of Essequibo and a Legislative Council on April 27.
The threat was delivered during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Inspectors and Sergeants’ Conference. Benn expressed the view that supporting Venezuela’s electoral process in Essequibo would be seen as a direct challenge to Guyana’s sovereignty.
However, this aggressive stance has raised concerns among sections of society, particularly those who feel marginalised by the government’s handling of national issues. A senior military officer, speaking with Village Voice News, suggested that the government’s warning is an attempt to suppress dissent, especially regarding the treatment of Guyana’s military personnel and the management of the ongoing border dispute with Venezuela.
“The government knows that there is widespread discontent in society, especially over the mishandling of the border controversy and the tragic incidents involving soldiers, such as the Cuyuni River disaster last month and the fatal helicopter crash in December 2023, which claimed the lives of five officers,” the officer remarked. “This threat is part of the broader strategy to stifle any expression of dissatisfaction, especially within the military and police forces.”
The recent interception of 75 Venezuelan nationals on Guyanese soil and the presence of a Venezuelan naval ship in Guyana’s waters have only heightened tensions. Critics argue that these incidents highlight the government’s failure to effectively address the situation and its increasingly counterproductive “do-it-alone” approach to border security.
In addition to concerns over Venezuela’s encroachment, there have been growing calls for more ethnic balance within Guyana’s disciplined services, not just at the leadership level, but across all ranks. Many believe that such balance would be representative of Guyanese willing to ‘take a bullet for Guyana’ and improve operational effectiveness, particularly along the porous border regions.
Despite Guyana’s economic standing as the world’s fastest-growing economy and the richest per capita income, the men and women in uniform face poor living and working conditions. Disciplined service workers, including military and police personnel, do not have the constitutional right to join trade unions, which is a fundamental labour right.
These benefits typically include:
- Health Insurance: Comprehensive health plans for the well-being of the workers.
- Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for essential dental and eye care.
- Retiree Health and Medical Benefits: Healthcare coverage extended to retired personnel.
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance: Protection in the event of life-threatening accidents.
- Disability Insurance: Financial support in the event of a disabling injury or illness.
- Generous Pension Plans: Robust retirement systems that provide long-term security.
- Life Insurance: Coverage for dependents in the event of an officer’s death.
- Mental Health Support: Access to counseling and mental health resources.
- Vacation and Time Off: Paid sick leave and generous vacation days.
- Family and Parenting Benefits: Perks for employees with families, including parental leave.
- Professional Development: Opportunities for career advancement, training, and education.
By contrast, Guyana’s security forces do not enjoy many of these essential benefits. Instead, they continue to operate under conditions of limited resources, poor living standards, and a lack of basic protections that could safeguard their health and well-being. The absence of these benefits has led to a decline in morale, especially given the perilous work these personnel undertake to protect the nation, often under very challenging circumstances.
In contrast, Guyana’s security forces continue to work under substandard conditions, lacking many of the basic protections and benefits that their counterparts in wealthier countries take for granted. This disparity has raised concerns about morale, especially when soldiers are tasked with protecting a country amidst growing threats from neighboring Venezuela.
As the April 27 Venezuelan election approaches, the general feelings on the ground are a mixture of apathy, disinterest and concern. At the same time Government’s hardline stance against any support for Venezuela’s electoral process underscores its unease and volatility in handling the border controversy in the presence of ongoing dissatisfaction with the treatment of Guyana’s disciplined services and significant sections of society.
