‘Guyana could be next target of illegal oil grab by Trump’- protestors warn

Jan 08, 2026 News

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By: Davina Bagot

(Kaieteur News) – With the largest oil discoveries recorded within the last decade, Guyana has become the envy of many nations. It must therefore be mindful of its relations and policy decisions in this regard as tensions soar between its neighbour, Venezuela and its ally, the United States of America (USA).

This message was central as a handful of picketers lined up Wednesday in Kingston, Georgetown, a stone’s throw away from the U.S Embassy to demonstrate against the abduction of Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro and the killing of over 80 persons in the process.

“It was an abduction- plain and simple…the only reason for any of this, just like Iraq is oil. America does not give a damn about Venezuela, Guyana, Colombia or any of us. All they are interested in is oil,” said Vanda Radzik, a human rights activist.

She warned that the events in Venezuela should send a clear message to Guyana on what can possibly recur here should politicians fail to dance to the tune of the Trump administration.

“We are back to imperialism, we are back at attempted colonialisation and Guyana should be warned that it doesn’t go down the path of becoming another colony in all of this big talk about support of Trump and America,” Radzik told this newspaper as she lowered her placard.

The activist argued that the appropriate method of addressing any concerns or suspicion the US president might have had about drug trafficking and other illegalities was through a court. Instead, his brazen acts, according to her, demonstrate that the rule of law does not apply to him.

“Tell me, give me one example when rule of law has applied to Donald Trump and the way he rules.”

To this end, she warned that Guyana should be mindful in its dealings with such a leader. In fact, she reasoned, “Guyana should be more than mindful and we should be speaking out against the atrocities of Trump today.”

Further she said there is a big lesson for Guyana to learn from the Venezuela situation. Radzik noted, “Trump does not care about Guyana or the government or us the people of Guyana. It is only the oil that he is concerned about and he wants to do everything to protect his interests in our oil; Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the whole world and he is determined to pocket those for the USA. What right have they to our sovereignty and our resources? They belong to us!”

Violation of international law

Meanwhile, attorney Christopher Ram who joined the women-dominated exercise, told Kaieteur News that the move by President Trump was not only a violation of international law but a desecration of the Caribbean region for which for decades fought to maintain a zone of peace. In fact, Ram believes that the region has now disintegrated into a zone of hostility and bullyism which he strongly condemned.

He argued, “I don’t think one has any doubt that this is about democracy. In fact, if it was democracy the US government would not be doing what it is doing. They have admitted that this is about oil and we have to be mindful that we ourselves are a newly developing oil economy.”

The lawyer continued, “We are probably the envy of lots of people. We are on the radar and we can easily have a situation where we are told, you have to sell your oil to the United States of America or you have to part with CNOOC (the Chinese partner in the Stabroek Block). Those are some of the dangers.”

‘Charge Trump!’

Meanwhile, executive director and founder of Guyana Trans United, Candacy Mcewan told Kaieteur News she was in firm solidarity with the people of Venezuela, since an injustice has been committed that affects everyone.

“One of the things we must be mindful of is that we can’t go about bombing people, because there are innocent people in the process who lost lives, and if I am going to murder, I would be held accountable and Trump or whoever carried out such an order should be placed before the court,” she urged.

Dangerous precedent

Also raising concern about the persons killed while Maduro was extracted from his country, Danuta Radzik argued that the US hailed the mission a “clean cut operation” simply because none of its soldiers were harmed.

The activist noted that the abduction of the head of state sets a dangerous precedent and should act as a warning for nations in western hemisphere.

She reasoned, “It started off by their declaration of a policy in which the United States of America is now claiming the right to the resources and to the control of the entire western hemisphere. This is utter and total madness. It is imperialism and it is very dangerous. It means that any country in the western hemisphere is now open to the US now coming in and wanting to claim their resources and wanting to ensure that the government supports the US and their policies.”

Radzik said while the US president claims that Venezuela is responsible for trafficking and other crime, there is no legal ground for his actions.

The activist pointed out, “There is no legal ground and besides that this is not the way that you stop trafficking of drugs. This is not the way it is done. It is not done by bombing little boats and killing people.”

Further, she noted that Guyanese are deeply shocked by the position of the Guyana government which has failed to voice its support in defense of the sovereignty of Venezuela.

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• abduction, Nicolás Maduro, oil discoveries, Trump

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