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Three interrelated events
Dear Editor,
I am writing on three interrelated events: namely the recent execution-type killing of a Guyanese man of Amerindian descent on the Guyana/Venezuela border, allegedly by the notorious gang known as “El Sindicato”; the ongoing border controversy with Venezuela, and the two percent royalty which forms part of the contract between the government of Guyana; and oil giant Exxon Mobil, and which, has since become a great source of discontentment.
In so doing, I will attempt to be as concise and succinct as possible, as space does not allow for definitive consideration.
Crimes with Political Aura:
Aura is defined as a distinctive atmosphere surrounding a given source, a halo, that which influences, a symptom of, that which accompanies or that which proceeds; aura of authority, aura of influence – hence the term ‘political aura’.
Crimes with political aura are not necessarily political crimes in themselves, as they are often carried out by rational non-state actors (criminal groups or gangs) who have over time become radicalized or politicized; and in so doing, seek to advance their own agendas by prosecuting the narrow self-interests of political, military or sectarian groups.
(Note the brazen use and graphic display on social media) which is reminiscent of terrorist (histrionic) attention-seeking behaviour, that is overly dramatic and emotional. It was also reported that Venezuelan outlaws are now living on Guyana’s shores, among Guyanese, and attack them like insurgents.
An article published by the Carnegie New Delhi Program and titled ‘Why crime pays in Indian politics’ highlights the nexus between crime and politics in many countries of the world. It is my view, that many of the ghastly acts carried out on the Guyana-Venezuela border, as of late, falls into this group of criminal activity, and is directly related to the border controversy, the economic constraints currently facing Venezuela, and heightened oil exploration in Guyana.
Background to the Border Controversy:
The Guyana-Venezuela border controversy existed for more than half a century before settlement by arbitration, and approximately that same period after settlement.
The British commenced discussions with Venezuela in January 1841 and the latter proposed the negotiation of a Treaty of Limits, which should precede the survey and demarcation of the frontier.
In 1843, the Venezuelan Ambassador in London requested the speedy conclusion of a Treaty to define the boundary between Venezuela and British Guiana. Then in a note of the 31 January 1844, he presented the first formal statement of the Venezuelan claim; that the territory of the Republic extended to the Essequibo River.
The American government became so engrossed in the conflict that at one point they were prepared to go to war with Great Britain on behalf of Venezuela. It was even rumored internationally that the Americans propagated the conflict to prevent the British from being able to access the vast petroleum reserves, which Guyana by then was believed to possess; another theory was that the Americans wanted to use the border controversy to checkmate Guyana for its alignment with the soviet bloc.
Oil Jurisprudence:
Ownership of oil and gas is a paramount topic in any discussion of petroleum. It is important because it defines the extent of interest and rights that any person, individual or body has in crude oil.
Whatever the rationale for Venezuela seeking to annex most of Guyana, one could view the two percent royalty which Guyana has agreed to, as being part of a package with psychic benefits, the other being protection, since Venezuela has stymied the development of Guyana for decades, and Exxon Mobil has been able to keep the Venezuelans in their place so far.
Clairmont Featherstone
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