Guyana’s silence on the Venezuela crisis is deafening

Aug 01, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
Venezuela’s President Maduro defiantly followed through with his pledge by holding Sunday’s elections to establish a ‘constituent assembly’. The opposition parties have mostly boycotted those elections that they believe to be a new tool to be used by President Maduro to override the country’s opposition-controlled National Assembly. Most of the countries in the region including two of Venezuela’s three neighbours have condemned the decision to proceed with the elections, and have called for dialogues between President Maduro and opposition leaders. Only one of Venezuela’s neighbours has remained conspicuously silent throughout the crisis.
Most of the South American countries, including Columbia and Brazil have condemned Maduro’s decision to hold those elections. Columbia’s President Juan Manual Santos said that the constituent assembly is of ‘illegitimate origin’ and therefore will not be recognized. Brazil’s foreign minister, Aloysio Nunes branded it a coup, stating “President Nicholas Maduro’s proposal for a constituent assembly is a coup d’état. It is another break with democracy, violating the country’s constitution.’ Even the OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro offered his thoughts in a video message stating “the announced proposal is wrong-headed, unconstitutional and fraudulent.”
With all the international outcry and condemnation, Venezuela’s eastern neighbour remains silent as though it is completely oblivious to what is likely a historical destruction of a democracy next door. Why? Why has Guyana decided to ignore the cries of the Venezuelan people? What can Guyana’s leader lose, by speaking out against those who deliberately seek to destroy important foundations of democratic principles?
It often said that silence may be construed to mean acquiescence. Does Guyana’s silence on the Venezuela crisis suggest that President Granger supports Maduro’s actions? It sure looks that way. But, President Granger ought to consider strongly the likelihood that Maduro’s Government will inevitably come to an end sometime, and that the opposition leaders of today could be the ones leading that country in the not too distant future. I suspect that they will remember Guyana’s silence during their struggles. It is time for President Granger to take off his ‘wuss’ hat and make a statement on the Venezuelan crisis – one way or the other.
Max Mohamed

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