Latest news with #Guyanese
South China Morning Post
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
How Instagram influencer who speaks Hakka Chinese honours her unique family roots
At first sight, you probably would not guess that Jephina Lueche could speak Hakka, a Chinese language variety most widely spoken in China's south, let alone that she teaches it to others. Advertisement But the content creator of Chinese and Guyanese descent has been giving short lessons on basic but useful everyday Hakka phrases on social media for over four years, wowing tens of thousands of followers along the way. An Instagram video of her speaking Hakka while sharing Peking duck with her multicultural relatives has racked up more than 2 million views. Other 'Hakka 101' clips, in which she covers practical phrases like 'good night', 'I like you' and 'don't speak', have also generated much online interest and reaction, as have her culture-focused videos, earning her more than 90,000 followers. The video that really kicked things off for her was posted in February 2021. It was one of her first Instagram videos detailing her family and features footage of her late Chinese grandmother playing with Lueche's now seven-year-old son.
Epoch Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Epoch Times
‘Latest Sham Election': US Criticizes Maduro Government for Holding Essequibo Election
The U.S. government criticized the Maduro government on May 25 for attempting to elect for the first time a governor for Essequibo, a disputed region claimed by Venezuela and controlled by neighboring Guyana. 'The United States rejects all attempts by Nicolas Maduro and his illegitimate regime to undermine Guyana's territorial integrity, including this latest sham election in the Essequibo region,' the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs on Sunday on X. This occurred one day before Guyana, a former British colony, celebrated the 59th anniversary of its independence, which the Trump administration commemorated through its embassy in the South American country. 'As we celebrate this milestone with all Guyanese, we look forward to continuing our strong partnership grounded in shared goals and values,' the embassy on X on May 26. Since the 19th century, Venezuela and Guyana have both claimed the Essequibo region, an area in western Guyana of about 160,000 square kilom eters (61,800 square miles) located west of the Essequibo River, which the Caracas government has considered the state of Guayana Esequiba since 2024. The Essequibo region has a wealth of natural resources, with fertile land suitable for rice, sugar, and other agricultural products; attractive tourist destinations; and significant mineral deposits, including gold, diamonds, and bauxite. Related Stories 2/7/2025 1/10/2025 On Sunday, the Venezuelan government organized elections within Venezuelan territory to elect 16 officials for the Essequibo region, including a governor, eight deputies to the National Assembly, and seven members of the regional legislative council, EFE reported. In addition to the Bureau of Western Hemisphe re Affairs, some members of Congress described Sunday's elections in Venezuela as a 'farce' and 'a total failure,' due to low voter turnout. 'The Venezuelan people spoke clearly: NO to the farce, NO to the dictatorship! May 25 was a total failure. Venezuela disobeyed with empty polling stations and silent streets,' Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) on X. 'Maduro's electoral show was useless—the world saw the firm rejection [of the election] by a brave people. All my support goes to the people and the iron lady,' referring to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. Meanwhile, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro the May 25 elections as his '30th electoral victory,' referring to the number of elections Venezuela has held during his term, noting that it was a 'quick and easy electoral process,' on Instagram. The vice president of Venezuela's National Electoral Council, Carlos Quintero, said on the night of May 25 that voter turnout was 42.6 percent of the electorate. In contrast, the opposition said there was low civic participation in Sunday's elections, with a 12.6 percent turnout and most polling stations empty, Corina Machado's campaign. 'Today, more than 85% of Venezuelans disobeyed this regime and said no,' Corina Machado said on May 25 in a video posted on X. Venezuelan opposition leader in exile Antonio Ledezma : 'The truth cannot be hidden: more than 86% of Venezuelan voters took part in a historic act of civil disobedience,' on his personal blog on May 26. 'They turned their backs on an illegitimate call to vote, organized to fabricate a result riddled with mathematical inconsistencies and logistical contradictions,' added the former mayor of Caracas. 'The images of empty polling stations, silent streets, and a country that simply said 'enough' speak louder than any manipulated figures. Maduro does not win elections; he steals them. He does not call elections; he stages farces.' The Epoch Times was unable to independently verify the results of the May 25 elections.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Venezuela's Shadow War Over Oil-Rich Essequibo Is Escalating
A quiet frontier in South America is rapidly becoming one of the world's most volatile energy flashpoints. The disputed region of Essequibo, a sparsely populated expanse administered by Guyana but claimed by Venezuela, has seen tensions simmer for years. But a combination of geopolitical ambition, economic desperation, and energy opportunity is now threatening to tip the standoff into open conflict. At stake is one of the most valuable stretches of territory in the world—an area that, until recently, few outside the region had heard of. Essequibo, which comprises nearly two-thirds of Guyana's landmass, was thrust into the global spotlight after ExxonMobil's 2017 discovery of the Stabroek Block offshore reserves, estimated at over 11 billion barrels of recoverable oil. For Guyana the find transformed the country from economic backwater to a regional energy giant almost overnight. The newfound wealth has also revived Venezuela's long-standing claim to the region, a grievance dating back to colonial arbitration rulings of the late 19th century. Caracas has never fully relinquished its claim, but it was only after the oil discovery that Venezuela began actively pressing the issue. Since 2022, under President Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela has dramatically escalated its rhetoric and actions—announcing referenda, redrawing maps, and even moving military assets toward the alarmingly, Venezuela has begun to mimic the playbook of its closest geopolitical ally—Russia. Much like Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea using unmarked 'little green men,' Venezuela appears to be laying the groundwork for a slow, deniable incursion into Essequibo. The playbook combines official rhetoric with irregular warfare tactics, allowing for plausible deniability while steadily undermining Guyana's control. The first major signal of this new phase came last year when Maduro's government held a referendum to 'reclaim' Essequibo. Despite international condemnation, the vote passed and led to the formal creation of a new Venezuelan 'state' encompassing the territory. Venezuela began offering citizenship to Essequibo's residents and launched efforts to organize elections in the region. In March 2025, a Venezuelan naval gunboat intercepted ExxonMobil operations in Guyanese waters, accusing the U.S. oil major of encroaching on Venezuelan territory. The incident was widely seen as a warning shot—not just to Exxon, but to any foreign investors backing Guyana's energy future. But the most ominous sign yet came on May 15, when Guyana's military reported three armed attacks in a single day on its patrols along the Cuyuni River, a critical stretch of the Guyana–Venezuela border. According to the Guyana Defence Force, unidentified gunmen in civilian clothing opened fire on soldiers in three separate engagements. No casualties were reported, and the Guyanese military responded with what it described as 'measured force.' The attacks were chilling in their timing and coordination. While the assailants were not officially identified, officials in Georgetown and most international observers believe they were Venezuelan operatives or proxies acting on Caracas's behalf. The region is not known for organized crime or guerrilla activity, and no local insurgency has taken root—at least not yet. This wasn't the first time violence erupted in the contested zone. In February, another attack left two Guyanese soldiers critically injured. That incident, too, was blamed on Venezuela-linked forces. While the skirmishes may seem minor in isolation, taken together they mark a dangerous pattern of escalation. What's emerging is a shadow conflict—gray-zone warfare that avoids the threshold of open war while steadily eroding Guyana's control over Essequibo. The danger, analysts warn, is that this slow-motion campaign could culminate in a de facto annexation, much like Crimea, before the international community has time to respond. The Guyana Defence Force fields just over 3,000 active personnel with limited air, land, and naval capabilities. Venezuela, by contrast, commands over 100,000 troops, around 200 tanks, dozens of combat aircraft, and a sizable paramilitary force—making any conventional war a one-sided affair. However, during a visit to Georgetown in March, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that any Venezuelan attack on Guyana or ExxonMobil would mark 'a very bad day' for Caracas, hinting at serious consequences. Venezuela swiftly condemned the remarks. The real question now is how the international community, and especially the United States, will respond. ExxonMobil's deep involvement gives Washington both an interest and a stake in the dispute. But the broader issue goes beyond oil. A successful Venezuelan land grab would further erode the already fragile post-Cold War order. It would also send a message to authoritarian regimes worldwide: territorial revisionism is back—and it works. Guyana has vowed to defend its sovereignty and is seeking stronger security partnerships. But unless it receives military support or any other type of real security guarantee from the U.S., Georgetown will struggle to hold the line alone. For now, Essequibo remains under Guyana's flag. But the shadow of Caracas is growing—and so is the risk that South America's next war may erupt in one of its least known, but most strategically vital, regions. By Charles Kennedy for More Top Reads From this article on
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Venezuela election results: Who lost, won and what next?
Venezuela's ruling coalition, led by President Nicolas Maduro, has won the parliamentary and regional elections by a landslide, maintaining a significant majority in the powerful National Assembly, according to the country's electoral authority. Sunday's legislative and gubernatorial elections were held as several opposition groups called for a boycott in response to what they described as fraudulent results of the July 2024 presidential vote. Maduro was declared the winner of the 2024 disputed vote. Following the results, the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) will continue to control key institutions, such as the attorney general's office and the supreme court, as their members are chosen by the 285-member assembly. Here is what you need to know about parliamentary and regional elections: Preliminary results released by the National Electoral Council (CNE) on Monday showed that the PSUV and its allies won 82.68 percent of the votes cast the previous day for seats in the National Assembly. The ruling coalition also won 23 out of 24 state governor positions, the CNE said. A coalition considered close to the ruling socialist party won 6.25 percent of the vote, while an opposition alliance won 5.17 percent, CNE rector Carlos Quintero said in a declaration broadcast on state television. Maduro hailed the election results as a 'victory of peace and stability' and said it 'proved the power of Chavismo' – the left-wing, populist political movement founded by his predecessor, Hugo Chavez. The CNE oversaw Sunday's election for 260 state legislators, 285 members of the unicameral National Assembly and all 24 governors, including the newly created governorship purportedly established to administer Essequibo, a region long under dispute between Venezuela and neighbouring Guyana. Opposition candidates won the governorship of Cojedes state, a fall from the four they won in 2021. The Venezuelan government revised the electoral boundaries to elect a governor and eight representatives for the Essequibo, an oil-rich region that Caracas disputes with Guyana in a colonial-era dispute. The vote took place in a micro-district of 21,403 voters in Venezuela's Bolivar state, on the Guyanese border. Caracas had specially created it for Sunday's legislative and regional elections. There were no polling stations in the 160,000sq km (61,776sq miles) territory of Essequibo, administered by Georgetown. Guyana has administered the region for decades, but Caracas has threatened to partially annex it – a threat that Maduro repeated on Sunday. The Guyanese government, before the vote, warned that participating in Venezuela's election could amount to treason. The Maduro government last year passed a law creating a new state in the disputed territory, despite the ongoing case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Venezuelan actions have come despite a 2023 court order asking Caracas to avoid any action that would change the status quo of the territory. The Venezuelan government has said it does not recognise the court's authority in the case. Opposition figurehead Maria Corina Machado declared in a post on X late on Sunday that in some areas of the country, up to 85 percent of eligible voters snubbed the election, which she slammed as an 'enormous farce that the regime is trying to stage to bury its defeat' in last year's election. Edmundo Gonzalez, who is recognised by the United States and several other countries as the winner of the July 2024 presidential election, said, 'We witnessed an event that attempted to disguise itself as an election, but failed to deceive the country or the world.' 'What the world saw today was an act of civic courage. A silent but powerful declaration that the desire for change, dignity, and a future remains intact,' he said in a post on X. Meanwhile, another opposition faction, headed by two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles and Zulia state Governor Manuel Rosales, urged people to vote to avoid the opposition being cut out of all governance. Capriles was elected to the National Assembly, while Rosales lost his governor's seat. Turnout in the elections was 8.9 million, or roughly 42 percent of 21 million voters eligible to cast their ballots, according to the CNE. However, the country's main opposition leaders had urged voters to boycott the election in protest over the July 2024 presidential election. The results are a big boost for Maduro who will further consolidate power as the ruling coalition now exercises almost complete control over the democratic institutions. It will also demoralise the opposition, which has been in a disarray, with the executive secretary of the opposition's Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), Omar Barboza, stepping down in March. Barboza cited lack of unity as one of the reasons to quit his post weeks before the elections. Al Jazeera's Teresa Bo, reporting from Argentina, noted that during the campaign, the opposition had been divided on the boycott call, making it difficult to present a more forceful challenge against Maduro. She added that most analysts have said they 'could not guarantee if the elections were free and fair'. 'They denounced the lack of international observers, among other things,' she said. Maduro's success in recent elections comes despite the decline of the economy following years of mismanagement and international sanctions. US President Donald Trump has recently revoked permission for oil giant Chevron to continue pumping Venezuelan crude, potentially depriving Maduro's administration of a vital economic lifeline. Licence to Chevron was given in 2022 under Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, after Maduro agreed to work with the opposition towards a democratic election. Washington has also started to deport Venezuelan immigrants, many of them to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. Last week, the US Supreme Court revoked the deportation protection for some 350,000 Venezuelan immigrants in the US.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Venezuela elects representatives for Guyana-administered Essequibo
Venezuela elected officials on Sunday for the first time for Essequibo region, an oil-rich territory that Caracas claims from neighboring Guyana as part of a centuries-old dispute. The vote took place in a micro-district of 21,403 voters in Venezuela's Bolivar state, on the Guyanese border. Caracas had specially created it for Sunday's legislative and regional elections. There were no polling stations in the 160,000-square-kilometer territory of (62,000-square-mile) Essequibo, which is administered by Guyana. "Today, Essequibo has a governor," Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro told his supporters on Sunday evening moments after the country's results were announced. Neil Villamizar, the candidate for Maduro's ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, received 4,720 votes, making him the first governor of Venezuela's newly created 24th state. "He will have full support for his work, because the people of Essequibo earned it, so that the people of Essequibo have all the rights as the people of Venezuela," Maduro said. Like in Essequibo, Maduro's party swept the board across Venezuela in parliamentary and regional elections, which were boycotted by the opposition in protest over his disputed re-election last year. Besides the governor, Essequibo also elected eight deputies and regional councilors. Turnout in the tiny constituency -- named "Guayana Esequiba" by Venezuelan authorities when it was created last year -- was about 32 percent, and Villamizar received nearly all the votes. Villamizar, a Navy commander who regularly appeared in uniform during his campaign, will have no power over the territory as his position is symbolic. But he told AFP Sunday before voting in El Dorado, one of the towns in Bolivar participating in the vote, that the elections were another step toward achieving "full sovereignty" for the territory. "We are focused on this task: to achieve through peaceful means... the recovery of the full sovereignty of Guayana Esequiba, in peace, with harmony, through diplomacy," Villamizar added. - 'A threat' - Ahead of the vote, Guyana's President Irfaan Ali had denounced the election as a "threat. Ali told AFP last week that Guyana "will do everything to ensure our territorial integrity and sovereignty is kept intact". The centuries-old dispute has intensified since ExxonMobil discovered massive offshore oil deposits a decade ago, giving Guyana the largest crude oil reserves per capita in the world. The territorial dispute is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, which earlier this month ordered Venezuela to suspend plans to extend its election to Essequibo. Maduro said Sunday, after casting his vote, Ali "will have to sit down with me to discuss and accept Venezuelan sovereignty." "With a governor, resources, a budget, and all the support I will provide, we will reclaim the Essequibo for the people," Maduro said. bur-dhc/tc
