Dear Editor,
One can hardly peruse the daily newspapers in Guyana without encountering the suspect reporting on the Argyle agreement between Guyana and Venezuela. Dismissing my initial thought of a media conspiracy to shape positive reader opinion on this sordid agreement, it becomes evident that our media, for the most part, seem unfamiliar with history and world affairs.
The Argyle agreement is hardly worth the paper it’s written on, and it remains to be seen whether Maduro’s claims will dissolve after the ICJ’s announcement. A critical point that most media outlets have overlooked is Venezuela’s longstanding commitment to its territorial claims. Venezuelan children are taught using maps that include Essequibo, and there is a rare political unity across the country regarding the nation’s claims to this area. Given these deeply ingrained beliefs, no Venezuelan leader could easily renounce these decades-old claims. Editor, Maduro’s intentions are quite transparent; his goal is to hinder further oil deals by introducing uncertainty and risk into Guyana’s economic sector. He has been successful in this endeavor, contrary to the repeated assurances from a seemingly ineffectual Irfaan Ali that Venezuela’s claim hasn’t impacted foreign direct investment. It would be reckless for any investor to commit shareholder funds to Guyana’s ventures, relying on the shaky assurances of Guyana’s president.
Maduro has won, not only has he managed to inject uncertainty, but he has also found a way to back out of his bellicose calls for military escalation against Guyana. This retreat comes especially since he was never going to be able to engage or sustain any military action against a US-supported Guyana, with his 1980s-era F-16s, purchased from the US over thirty years ago. Additionally, the Venezuelan treasury is broke, its people disheartened, and he is a reviled leader.
Venezuela’s attacks, Suriname’s quiet claims and resentments, and the seemingly early reluctance of Caribbean leaders to support Guyana vigorously all stem from the same source; envy.
Editor, there is a consensus view that Bharrat Jagdeo pursued and engaged China’s economic involvement in Guyana, not only because it was allegedly easy to extract illicit gains from them, but also because he wanted an economic counterweight to the United States. Interestingly, when the nation needed support in a way that truly mattered, it was to the United States they ran, begging for help.
Lastly, it is enlightening to observe the Ali-Jagdeo administration’s approach, particularly their readiness to engage in diplomacy and discussions when dealing with Venezuela. In stark contrast, the African people at Mocha have not received a similar level of diplomacy and discussion. Likewise, our local unions and any civil society groups that voice complaints about the PPP government are not met with the same degree of respect and diplomacy. It is distressing to see the Guyanese people being led in such a manner. We can only hope for divine intervention.
Sincerely,
Shane Headly
