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Guyanese standing as one
Editorial…
Kaieteur News- This week, as has been the case over the years, Guyanese stood in solidarity in defence of this country’s sovereignty and against ongoing Venezuelan hostility and potential aggression.
As we reported on Monday, Guyana’s borders with Venezuela remained intact, even as that country’s President, Nicolas Maduro, had urged his citizens to illegally elect a Governor for Guyana’s Essequibo territory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs took reporters and other media workers on a tour to four Region One communities close to the Venezuelan border to observe whether any election was taking place in Guyana.
There was no evidence of polling. Reporters visited Baramita, Matthews Ridge, Arakaka, Mabaruma and even Imbotero, an area located in the Barima River and a few hundred meters away from a Venezuelan army base set up a few hundred meters away on Venezuela’s side of the Region One border. Venezuelans remained in Venezuelan territory, and it was business as usual at Mabaruma and for Guyanese living along the Barima River.
On the coast, Guyanese displayed the Golden Arrowhead on their properties- others wore tee-shirts with the slogan emblazoned in front of it, ‘Essequibo Belongs to Guyana’. We were all on the same page because this is the only way in which the ambitions of our neighbour could be given an abrupt wake-up call. We may be small, but we will not be pushovers, as every centimetre of territory would be defended by whatever means it takes. Venezuelan leaders must come to their senses and face reality: their claims on Guyana’s rich territory are without the kind of foundation that can withstand the weight of serious scrutiny. The international community has come out on the side of Guyana and, more recently, the United States has been clear and unsparing as to where it stands in this matter. It is on the side of Guyana.
But there is appreciation that those are not enough to quell Venezuela’s claim to almost two-thirds of this country’s territory. It is rich territory, as proven fairly frequently: there are huge gold finds. There are massive oil deposits found offshore, with more likely. There are minerals and timber galore that would give ideas even to missionaries. Any single segment of this rich package of natural resource endowments could lead to bordering countries concocting territorial schemes to feather their nests.
In addition, politicians in countries that live with continuing domestic economic distress have been known to engage in foreign adventures to distract their angry and besieged populations. This is what is at work in Venezuela, but whatever it is, our neighbour’s leaders have been put on notice: this country and its peoples are not going to roll over and cave before their naked ambitions, their deplorable manipulations.
The fact that this country is highly polarised should not be seen as an incentive or invitation by Venezuela to test its vision. If there is one issue on which Guyanese have to cast aside their hard differences and close ranks, it is on this specious border issue. There is simply no choice, for to do otherwise would tear this country apart like it has never been before. It is our position that the movers and shakers and strategists in Venezuela miscalculated and overplayed their hand with their latest sham elections to elect a governor and other officials for our beloved Essequibo. There were no election activities in our territory, and no one, even a Venezuelan living here, participated in the polls. If anything, Venezuela’s posture has given both the Government and people of Guyana the opportunity to come together and stand firmly before what is nothing but raw threats and deepening belligerence.
There is the risk that this country and its citizens could start looking at the many sons and daughters of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela with a jaundiced eye. For some of those seeking refuge and economic openings, here could be plans to undermine local interests. This country’s leaders have to be cognizant of the fact that Guyana stands as a magnet for agitated neighbours and cunning exploiters waiting for the right moment to make their presence felt here. Unless Guyanese leaders are at their keenest and wisest, this country could be subject to a host of other threats, including from some of those who come to partner with us. When Guyanese look out for each other and include everyone, then the odds of this country gaining the upper hand just went through the roof.
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