Person holding a gold nugget. Photo: Phawat/Shutterstock/File photo.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—The Venezuelan government expressed its absolute condemnation of what it called “shameful statements” made by Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali from the US Embassy in Georgetown, calling his accusations unfounded.
In a statement released Saturday, June 28, by Foreign Minister Yván Gil via social media, Venezuela stated that Ali appeared at the diplomatic headquarters not as head of state, but “as a political subordinate, accountable to his true masters.”
“From that position of submission and dependence, Irfaan Ali made unfounded accusations against the Venezuelan government, blatantly lying about a subject he knows well. He is the true leader of the illegal gold and mineral extraction mafia, which has accelerated the destruction of the environment and life itself in a territory that does not belong to him. Additionally, he led a scheme to plunder oil in a sea pending delimitation—exploitation that is illegal and illegitimate under international law,” the statement added.
Venezuela reiterated that Essequibo Guayana is its territory and that only the 1966 Geneva Agreement is a valid mechanism to resolve the dispute. “There is no judicial shortcut or media maneuver that will strip Venezuela of its historic rights,” it emphasized.
“Guyana lacks the moral authority to speak of legality or democracy. What it presents as ‘cooperation’ with the United States is a servile surrender of sovereignty, seeking to turn Guyana into a base of operations against Venezuela and regional stability,” the statement warned.
Ali’s statements
Late Friday, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said his government is dedicating “enormous resources” to thwart smuggling, a long-standing problem. He cited increased border patrols and improved monitoring in mining regions.
Guyanese officials suspect Venezuelan-sanctioned gold is mixed with Guyanese-mined gold, then passed off as local production and sold to markets in the US, Canada, the Middle East, and elsewhere.
On Friday, US Ambassador Nicole Theriot praised Guyana’s cooperation, noting joint efforts to secure its border with Venezuela. Many analysts question the nature of the US military presence in Guyana, calling it a beachhead for aggression and destabilization against Venezuela.
Guyana’s gold
Gold is Guyana’s second-largest export after oil, generating nearly $1 billion last year. About 434,000 ounces were produced in 2024, up from 432,000 ounces the previous year, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. It is noted that up to 50% of local gold production is smuggled out of Guyana, according to the Associated Press.
However, an Orinoco Tribune analysis using Bank of Guyana, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund (IMF) data—with a 2024 projection—shows erratic Guyanese gold exports. Projected 2024 exports are below the 2018 peak, which coincided with the launch of illegal US sanctions against Venezuelan oil and gold. It is important to highlight the difference between production and exports.
Guyana’s gold output has surged since the mid-2010s, driven by large-scale industrial mining projects like the Aurora Gold Mine (operational since 2016) and the revival of historic mines such as the Omai Gold Mine (reactivated in 2023 after a 17-year hiatus). These operations, often backed by foreign investment, have significantly boosted production capacity.
The Aurora mine alone produces over 300,000 ounces of gold annually, while the Omai mine aims to reach 190,000 ounces per year by 2025. Such projects leverage advanced extraction technologies and economies of scale. The government has also streamlined regulations to attract foreign firms, such as Canada’s Gran Colombia Gold and Gold X Mining, further accelerating output.
Venezuelan communique
Below is the full, unofficial translation of Venezuela’s statement:
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly rejects the shameful statements made by Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali from the US Embassy in Georgetown, where he presented himself not as a head of state, but as a political subordinate, accountable to his true masters.
From that position of submission and dependence, Irfaan Ali made bold and unfounded accusations against the Venezuelan government, blatantly lying about a topic he knows well, as he is the true leader of the illegal gold and mineral extraction mafia, which has caused accelerated destruction of the environment and life itself in a territory that does not belong to him. He also spearheaded a scheme to plunder oil in a sea pending delimitation, the exploitation of which is completely illegal and illegitimate under international law.
Essequibo Guayana is Venezuelan territory, and only the 1966 Geneva Agreement constitutes the valid and recognized mechanism for resolving the dispute over this land area. There is no judicial shortcut or media maneuver that can strip Venezuela of its historic rights.
Guyana lacks the moral authority to speak of legality or democracy. What it presents as “cooperation” with the United States is nothing more than a servile surrender of sovereignty, seeking to turn its country into a base of operations against Venezuela and the stability of the region.
We tell Irfaan Ali clearly: keep silent when referring to Venezuela. His administration, marked by subservience, theft, and provocation, has no legitimacy to point the finger at anyone. Sooner rather than later, he will have to sit down with Venezuela to resolve what he refuses to admit: that the Essequibo is Venezuelan and the exploitation of resources in undelimited maritime areas is an act of modern piracy that will not be tolerated.
The Sun of Venezuela is born in the Essequibo!
Caracas, June 28, 2025
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/SF
