Maduro throwing caution to the winds

Dec 10, 2023 Editorial

Kaieteur News – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is following up on his December 3^rd referendum. There has been an inexorable escalation of steps intended to convey how serious he is, and committed to a certain course of action. With each new development, new points of no return are breached, as the Venezuelan leader throws caution to the winds. He had made known Venezuela’s position on any ICJ ruling that favoured Guyana, that spoke against his referendum of last Sunday. Now, he has moved to add substance to his prior saber-rattling, as he goes beyond words with some specific actions publicized.

An open-ended invitation has been extended to companies to invest in oil and gold operations in the newly claimed State of Essequibo, now sitting with even more luster in the map of Bolivarian Republic. It is a huge provocation. Upping the stakes even further, President Maduro has delivered what is nothing but a loaded ultimatum. Companies that are operating in the rich Essequibo have been given three months to close their operations, and leave. As provocations go, this is as big as it gets. For what is happening is that Maduro, for all intents and purposes, is signaling to Guyana, and the world, that he is the one standing over Essequibo, and only his decisions count.

We do not think that Maduro nor most Venezuelans really want war. He keeps raising the bar on an already tense situation and himself. Now if concrete actions follow on the heels of his warning to companies operating under Guyana licences in Essequibo, then the border controversy has been entirely resolved by Maduro alone and to his satisfaction alone. Though we have said it before (and others also have), there is merit in taking the same position again. If this is allowed to take root, then any country, and reckless national leader, would be free to think that borders can be redrawn and international law can be ignored, as either suits their schemes and calculations.

Guyana is smaller in almost every respect when compared to neighbouring Venezuela. But on this border (Essequibo) issue, Guyanese must stand taller, show that their hearts are bigger, and their resolve more powerful than this man Maduro and his dangerous escalations and machinations. The first challenge is clear and convincing efforts at national unity. Guyanese must be united in soul and in spirit on Venezuela, or Venezuela will pick this country apart one aggressive move at a time.

Leaders must set the tone from the top in words, attitudes, and actions, and that tone must form part of a continuous national commitment to standing as one against probable Venezuelan and Maduran incursions in Essequibo. Venezuelan officials and other agents here must feel the intensity of Guyanese unity, and convey that to Caracas. A fight is not desired, but if it has to be, then be prepared for a hard one. Guyana has the backing of many in the international community, especially the more influential voices that can cause some real problems for Venezuela, and deepen its existing economic malaise.

Nicolas Maduro may fool himself into thinking that his calculated brinksmanship has Guyanese flinching, and running for cover. He is wrong, and is advised to standdown now, instead of barreling ahead in the manner of bullies, only to trip over his own feet. It is one thing to escalate, but it is quite another to overextend and expose oneself dangerously. It is our view at this paper, that President Maduro is not so far gone that he is beyond listening; or as he would like Guyanese to believe. The world is arrayed against him, and any allies that he may have. Whatever mind games he is playing with the granting of licences, and chasing out existing concession holders in Guyana, can and will backfire in his face. For there is the significant risk that his disorderliness could prove to be contagious, and that the likelihood of country-to-country disagreements and disputes deteriorating into chaos.

At some level, Venezuela is currently held as a pariah state in the fraternity of nations. It would be another layer to the Venezuelan tragedy if it adds a rogue leader. Venezuela is not Manchuria; Venezuela is in the Americas.

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companies, Guyana, Leader, Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelan President

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