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United States (U.S) Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, will be on a four-day visit to Suriname, Guyana, Brazil, Columbia, and Texas before returning to his office in Washington D.C. After Guyanese were left in suspense about the nature of the visit when it was first announced by Mr. Pompeo last week at a press conference, on 15th September the U.S Department of State in a release said the visit to Suriname is to “celebrate the triumph of democracy” and in Georgetown the plan is to “congratulate newly elected president …, meet with CARICOM Secretary-General …[examine] private sector investment to increase prosperity for the people of Guyana, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Guyana is due a two-day visit, i.e. 17-18th September
Instructively the Secretary will wrap up his visit in Plano, Texas where ExxonMobil has an office. On the eve of this arrival Guyanese were advised by their Government that Mr. Pompeo’s visit is not intended to pressure Guyana on approving ExxonMobil’s Payara Field Development Plan that is currently under review. There is a tendency to underestimate the intelligence of Guyanese.
The visit to this new oil and gas rich nation where U.S-based ExxonMobil is a major player, albeit competing with other oil giants to exploit our resources, is not without purpose. Watchers of global politics, particularly the U.S under the Trump administration, know the definition for democracy is skewed. The 2016 U.S presidential election had foreign interference according to the U.S intelligence agencies, who have warned of similar efforts to ensure Trump’s re-election in November.
Mr. Pompeo has an interest in our oil and gas and neighbour, Venezuela. It is known the Trump administration does not recognise the Nicolás Maduro government, preferring instead Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó who they hosted at the White House and considers the legitimate president. And though the U.S has been unable to unseat Maduro the interest to have Guaidó installed has not waned.
There is a general view by some that Secretary Pompeo’s role in the 2020 Elections was never about democracy and the integrity of the election. Rather, it was to have the election concluded and a government in office that can fulfill the U.S’ interest. In the 2019 election President Morales of Bolivia was forced out of office on accusation by the Observer Mission from the Organisation of American States (OAS) that the election was fraudulent. An analysis by the reputable Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Election Data and Science Lab, determined that was not the case and Morales likely won.
There is a re-aligning of global politics where nationals, in order to hold political office, will be in cahoots with foreign interests at the expense of Guyana’s national interest. It may have escaped attention, but last Saturday the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) voted for a President that broke the long-held gentleman’s agreement that this position would be held by someone from Latin America.
According to an Ariela Navarro/ AFP story (Sept 12, 2020) the 45-year Mauricio Claver-Carone, is a “known Trump adviser,” and also “known for his strong opposition to Havana and Venezuela.” This is signaling should any country go to the Bank for assistance and do not acquiesce to U.S’ position funding may likely be denied. 31 percent of the member-states abstained from voting as a mark of protest.
As Guyanese we have reasons to be concerned. One, the U.S does not use Guyana to settle its political score with Venezuela. Two, it is to Guyana’s interest to advance a foreign policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of another country. And three, Guyana ensures exploitation of our resources satisfies local laws, and international best practices in securing the environment and a fair return for locals.
When the U.S last April approached Guyana for permission to use one of our medium wave towers to “reach populations in Venezuela,” then President David Granger declined the request. The reason was, “Given the length of an unpoliced western border, the influx of refugees, the unsettled territorial question and the public health risks, it would not be in our national interest to do anything to contribute to destabilising relations at this time.”
Mr. Granger’s assessment may still be our best option to remain neutral and spare Guyana from being caught in the crossfire of Venezuela, U.S and Russia politics. Any crossfire would place us in a position akin to Syria. We are at a dangerous confluence of geopolitical muscle flexing and oil and gas wealth. The situation could become inflammable if not handled shrewdly.
