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One man protestor returns to Venezuelan Embassy
Against the backdrop of Venezuelan claims to Essequibo, one man yesterday decided to continue his protest in front of the Venezuelan Embassy, despite rain and a purported death threat.
The one man protestor yesterday.
Dennis Atwell, 43, braved inclement weather to conduct his peaceful protest before the Venezuelan Embassy, which is located at 296 Thomas Street, South Cummingsburg.
The man, who hails from Essequibo, is an artist by profession and he made full use of his talents in designing several items to help him reinforce his message on the avenue.
While some of the items Atwell presented depicted the CARICOM, United States of America, Guyana, Trinidad and United Kingdom flags, others depicted the map of Guyana. The divisions in the maps showed the administrative regions and Essequibo.
“I normally (would) be out here protesting the Venezuelan claim to our Essequibo. The only thing different (yesterday) is that elections is on Sunday in Venezuela,” Atwell said. Atwell added that should a new President be elected in Venezuela, he would reiterate the message that Guyana is a peaceful nation, but one which wants to preserve its sovereignty.
He referenced the claims that Venezuela revived after the announcement was made that oil was discovered in commercial quantities off the Stabroek block. This situation also involved arms being deployed by Venezuela near the Guyana border and a Venezuela gunboat in the Cuyuni River.
“So I want to say to which ever President is coming into office that we in Guyana are a peaceful people. And we want a peaceful solution,” he said. “A solution was reached in 1899. But ever since then Venezuela has been aggressive to us. You know of numerous instances that there have been incursions on our borders.”
“I, my father (a soldier) and my mother are from Essequibo. Why I took this struggle up is that ever since I was a little boy my father used to come, during the upheaval then, with troops to our home.”
It is these recollections that have imbued him with a sense of where he came from.
“This protest is the biggest thing in my life right now. If it means that I have to die here, I will. I believe in my country, I love my country and I am going to stand until the last breath for my country,” Atwell said. “(Our) ancestors have slaved for this country and built it, so that today we can enjoy it.”
Atwell is no stranger to protesting the Venezuelan aggrandizement. When Venezuela first issued its decree claiming Essequibo, he became a prominent feature in front of the embassy.
Of recent, a foreign military Black Hawk helicopter was reported as landing at the Kaikan airstrip. Kaikan village is located approximately 78 miles up the Essequibo River. Villagers reported that two men who disembarked from the helicopter asked them whether they had landed at San Juan, a village close and to the South West of Kaikan, but on the Venezuelan side of the border.
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