Play the song!

Oct 27, 2023 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – Recently the government of Venezuela has upped the ante in relation to the territorial conflict it has with Guyana. The trigger for Venezuela’s actions was the decision of the government to hold auction for oil blocks in an area of Guyana to which Venezuela is laying claim.

Venezuela has taken the matter a step further by having its legislative arm authorize the holding of a referendum on the issue of this claim. Among the questions which will be asked of the Venezuelan people is whether the government should declare Essequibo a state of Venezuela and whether the population of the Essequibo should be registered as Venezuelan citizens.

In response the government of Guyana  accused Venezuela of brazenly seeking the consent of the Venezuelan people to create a new Venezuelan state and to grant  Venezuelan citizenship to the population of Essequibo. The government of Guyana said that this amounts to “the annexation of Guyana’s territory, in blatant violation of the most fundamental rules of the UN Charter, the OAS Charter and general international law. Such a seizure of Guyana’s territory would constitute the international crime of aggression.”

As is usual, whenever the territorial conflict flares up, well-intentioned individuals are eager to offer advice. The advice provided is well-intentioned and rooted in a desire to protect Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, it is equally important to recognize when certain recommendations have become outdated. One suggestion, for example, is for Guyana to launch a public advocacy or public education campaign. However, this recommendation is irrelevant, given the deep-rooted awareness and solidarity among the Guyanese people regarding their territorial rights.

The Essequibo dispute has persisted for over 60 years, becoming a fundamental part of Guyanese national consciousness. The idea of implementing a public relations campaign, aimed at educating the citizens about an issue they are already well-versed in, is not only redundant but also a waste of resources.

There is hardly a Guyanese individual who is not firmly in support of their country when it comes to the territorial conflict with Venezuela. Therefore, any such campaign would likely fall on deaf ears, as it attempts to inform the Guyanese people about what they already know or convince them about a position to which they are already converted.

If the younger generation needs to be informed about the this conflict, all the government[s radio stations have to do is to play, two of three times daily, Dave Martin’s local classic, “Not a blade of grass.” No public relations campaign can top the effect of that song in stirring national patriotism.  The song has become a galvanizing force in uniting our people around Guyana’s stance on the territorial conflict. Instead of investing in a public relations campaign, the government can rely on the powerful medium of music to engage the younger generation. “Not a Blade of Grass,” a local classic by Dave Martin, serves as an emblematic representation of Guyana’s position on the territorial conflict. By broadcasting this song on government radio stations at strategic intervals, the government can effectively convey its message and stir national patriotism.

Music has a unique ability to touch people’s hearts and minds, transcending mere information dissemination. In this context, “Not a Blade of Grass” can be a potent tool for instilling a sense of unity and purpose in the face of territorial challenges.

Furthermore, the advice to “step up international advocacy” is another suggestion that seems out of touch with reality. Over the years, advocacy against Venezuela’s provocations has become systemic, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regularly issuing condemnations of Venezuela’s provocations.  The international and regional response is swift and resolute, reinforcing Guyana’s position and expressing solidarity with Guyana.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has already issued a statement condemning Venezuela’s actions as violations of international law. Such collective responses provide a solid foundation for Guyana’s stance and discourage further aggressive actions. In the coming days, we can expect other statements from various international organizations and governments, further reinforcing support for Guyana. In this environment of well-established and systemic international and regional advocacy, the government does not need to escalate its efforts further. The mechanisms are in place to respond to provocations promptly and effectively.

The awareness of the Essequibo dispute is ingrained in the Guyanese national identity, making a public relations campaign redundant. Moreover, the systemic advocacy against Venezuela’s provocations is well-established at the international and regional levels, eliminating the need for an escalation in this regard.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

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• crime, Government, Guyana, Peeping Tom, Venezuela

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