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OPEN LETTER TO CARICOM LEADERS
Dear Editor,
Recent engagements between Caribbean leaders and representatives of Venezuela have exposed a troubling weakness at the heart of regional leadership.
When Venezuela, acting president Delcy Rodríguez appeared at official meetings wearing a pin depicting the Essequibo as part of Venezuela, it was not a casual or harmless gesture. It was a calculated political statement—one widely viewed as deliberate and provocative, and even described as “symbolic aggression” against Guyana’s sovereignty. The failure to confront this openly is both disappointing and dangerous.
It is particularly concerning that leaders such as Mia Mottley, who has delivered powerful speeches on the international stage about fairness and the treatment of small states and Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell did not use those engagements to clearly and publicly insist on respect for territorial integrity. Leadership on the international stage demands more than eloquence; it requires courage when it matters most.
The silence of CARICOM in the face of such a blatant provocation suggests that economic issues and narrow national interests have become the major causes of disunity. At a time when Guyana faces sustained and increasingly assertive pressure, anything short of a firm, unified stance represents a failure of regional responsibility.
Recently, academics have called for consideration to be given to the establishment of “PetroCaricom” to replace PetroCaribe, led by Guyana, in order to rekindle regional unity and promote CARICOM’s energy security.
Guyana must now lead not only by asserting its sovereign rights but by strengthening regional partnerships in ways that remove vulnerabilities. It must also embark on a vigorous diplomatic campaign to ensure that the globally accepted map of Guyana is recognised and used in every country, including Venezuela.
At the same time, the role of external powers, particularly the United States, raises legitimate concerns about influence and division within the region. Caribbean leaders must ensure they are not participants in strategies that weaken collective unity. This is a defining moment. CARICOM must convene urgently and take an unequivocal stand in defense of Guyana’s territorial integrity. Anything less will confirm the growing perception that regional solidarity is negotiable and that Caribbean unity can be compromised precisely when it is most needed.
Regards,
Rawle Blackman
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