SOMEBODY NEEDS TO HELP

Jul 15, 2015 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

When a nation is threatened with the possibility of losing its territory, it cannot stay quiet. It has to speak out against any such threat.
Guyana has done this. It is the right thing to do. Guyana had to have spoken out strongly against the threat made by Venezuela.
But in as much as a country is expected to assert itself in the face of attempts to dispossess it of its territory, the country also has to consider its interests, including the trade relations that it may have with the other States.
Guyana has significant economic trade ties with Venezuela. It is reported that as much as one-third of Guyana’s rice exports are to that country.
The price paid by Venezuela is very generous, far higher than is obtainable in other markets to which Guyana exports. It is these high prices that has allowed for rice production to expand, because while production costs are high, farmers are making some money these days once the millers are prepared to pay a fair price for paddy.
Hundreds of rice farmers and their families are therefore likely to be affected by the decision of Venezuela to cut back on rice imports, and eventually, not continue with the agreement that allows for the export of rice from Guyana to that country. It will be a major blow to the economy and one that should have been predicted.
The PPP has made a valid point which should not be ignored. There was no dialogue going on. The government cannot be blamed for this.
The government was always open to dialogue. The President himself had indicated that he was willing to meet with the Venezuelan leader. But given the strong rhetoric on both sides this could not have happened. It is difficult to see it happening now.
The ground has to be prepared for dialogue. While politicians may be belligerent, there has to be heads behind the scenes at lower levels trying to open the doors to dialogue. This has not been happening, and it is time for both sides to turn to trusted friends to do this.
One person who has enjoyed good friendship with the Venezuelan leadership, and who has promoted good relations with Venezuela even in times of tensions, has been the former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo. He may be just the person that Guyana needs to help reopen the rice market.
Unfortunately, he is not the favourite of the government and it is not likely to want anything to do with him, more so on the Venezuelan issue, which is a high stakes tussle.
But what is to prevent the PPP undertaking its own private attempt to try to bring a resolution to this crisis? In the United States, it is known that congressmen have flown to other countries on private missions and helped to resolve foreign policy issues. There can be little harm in so doing.
The farmers are going to suffer tremendously.
The country is going to be affected by any stoppage of rice exports to Venezuela. The economy is going to go into crisis, because the rice was effectively being bartered to pay for fuel, thus allowing for savings in foreign exchange.
This is a national issue. The government needs to summon a national forum on this issue. It needs to meet with the PPP on this issue. The PPP should accept this invitation.
The PPP should step up to the plate and use its influence to save Guyana.

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