The insistent call from the authorities of Venezuela to participate “massively” in the non-binding referendum this Sunday in defense of the Essequiboa territory of almost 160,000 square kilometers in dispute with Guyanaobtained a weak response from the population, which could be seen in voting centers, with little presence of voters.
At 3:00 p.m. local time (7:00 p.m. GMT), three hours before the centers were scheduled to close, less than 12% of voters had voted in three centers located in very different areas of Caracasaccording to the coordinators of these spaces – all secondary education institutions – consulted by EFE.
At an electoral center in the Chavista municipality of Liberator, 325 people out of 2,881 had voted, that is, 11.28% of the total. The place was almost empty, with only one voter at one of the three tables set up, with a quietness far from the festive day that awaited the Government.
The consultation, which included a broad and intense campaign lasting almost a month, contemplates, among its five questions, the annexation of the territory to the Venezuelan map, with the creation of a state called Guyana Essequibaand the launch of a “accelerated plan” to serve the population of the area, with the granting of citizenship and an identity document.
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Without interest
The referendum, for which they were 20.69 million citizens enabledand supported by more than 780,000 Venezuelan organizations of different kinds, according to the electoral authorities, is considered by the Government of Nicolas Maduro like a “unique opportunity” to reinforce the defense of this territory rich in natural resources.
But Willy Moralesa 29-year-old young man who was passing in front of the voting center, decided to abstain from participating as he did not feel interested.
“In the end, so be it (the Essequibo) from us or not from us, what is going to benefit basically is the Government because it is the one that is going to bring up the mineral issues to use it in its favor, but the people are not going to benefit as much from that“Morales told EFE.
Caracasaccustomed to chaos and traffic jams, this Sunday had its avenues and highways without traffic, and many streets were not only quiet, but empty, without passersby.
In another area of the capital, ideologically opposed, three hours before the scheduled closing, 300 people had votedof 4,139, that is, 7.24% of the total, the coordinator told EFE.
Nearby, he walked Jesus Bastidasa 41-year-old independent worker who decided “not to waste time” in participating in a referendum that “is not necessary” and feels “basically a false election”when there is “most important things” to attend to “at this moment”, such as hospitals, “that are falling”and the schools, which “don’t work.”
“(The consultation) does not even serve to make noise because people do not care, the majority of people do not care, and those who are voting (do so) to secure their national bonds (government handouts) or their funds (subsidized food) CLAP”, he assured EFE.
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For my country
On the eve of this consultation, the head of state had assured that “there will be justice” by “the dispossession” of the Essequibo only ““if there is a united voice of all the people” this Sunday.
For its part, Carmen Rabell73 years old, responded to the official call not only to vote but also to answer “five times yes” to the five questions.
“(I did it) for my country, for the country of (the liberator Simon) Bolivar and for the homeland of my eternal commander (the late president) Hugo rafael chavez frias”, he expressed.
In the center where they voted, in another area of Caracas, until 3:00 p.m. local time, the participation of 10.95% of the electorate registered in this place was recorded, an approximate of 7,000 people, according to the coordinator.
The day began at 6:00 local time (10:00 GMT), when part of the 15,857 voting centers enabled for the process began to open, whose first voter was Ripe.
EFE also confirmed the low turnout at electoral centers in Maracaibo, the state capital. Zulia (northwest, border with Colombia).
Several opposition parties and politicians have assured that there is a low participation in Caracas and at least 8 of the 23 states, while the electoral and official authorities attest to having seen on tours “queues” in the centers.
