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Guyana must stand united against “evil” border threat – former decorated diplomat
Guyana needs to stand in united solidarity against the “evil” threat of Venezuela’s claim on the Essequibo
Former diplomat,
Sir Sridath Rampaul
region and its maritime borders.
This statement was made by decorated diplomat Sir Shridath Ramphal at the Georgetown Rotary Club’s Installation Dinner, at the Pegasus Hotel, Thursday evening.
During his address, the former Commonwealth Secretary-General said that the threat which Venezuela poses is real and present and cannot be ignored.
“Let us confront the evil that is afoot as one people,” said Sir Shridath. He had noted that the claims which Venezuela imposes on internationally recognised borders of Guyana have become a national crusade for the western neighbour.
This crusade is one which he said “shades” the memory of Simone Bolivar, the national hero of Venezuela.
“Under a cloak of Bolivarian friendship, our western neighbour stalks us on land and seas driven by a mythical urge that most of our country belongs to them. The people of Venezuela are our friends; but so persistent is the fantasy nourished by expansionist cabals, many of them military regimes, that stealing Guyana has become a national crusade that shades the memory of Bolivar,” said Sir Shridath.
He further called the Venezuela’s claims illegal, immoral and “downright pernicious”, and one which violated international law.
To resolve the maritime/border controversy, Sir Shridath said that the Government will need the solidarity of all Guyanese nationally, regionally and internationally. In doing so, the former diplomat said that the country must honour the Charter of the United Nations.
Last month, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela passed Decree 1787, which described international waters as “Operational Zones of Integral Maritime and Insular Defense”. The Venezuelan Government claimed that the operating zones, which intrude upon Guyanese waters, are necessary for national security.
Venezuela has since faced opposition from the territorial decree from Guyana, which declared its neighbour as a “regional threat”. Venezuela’s claim came at a time when the US giant oil company, ExxonMobil announced significant finds of oil in a region of the Stabroek Block. More recently, Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, rejected the western neighbour’s claims in the National Assembly. He also affirmed that Guyana will defend with all its force, any military advances made by Venezuela.
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