A few months ago Guyana was trying its best to stave off a move by Venezuela to annex Essequibo. Venezuela had already passed a resolution to occupy this large part of Guyana. It had gone as far as to appoint a governor for what it called Nueva Essequiba.
United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, visited Guyana and proclaimed that should Venezuela make a move against Essequibo that would be a terrible mistake on the part of President Nicolas Maduro.
On Saturday that threat to Guyana was removed. The United States launched an attack on the neighbouring republic that removed Maduro from the arena. Of interest is that the attack on Venezuela came a few days before the anniversary of the attack on the Capitol to halt the declaration of Joe Biden as President of the United States.
There are incidents that mirror others. When news came that Maduro had been removed from Venezuela and taken to the United States to stand trial for a host of declared offences, not least among them, drug trafficking, some Venezuelans in Guyana hosted a street party.
Videos showed them partying on the seawalls of Georgetown. They were happy that the man they accused of making them flee the country was no longer there.
This celebration by the Venezuelans was reminiscent of the celebration that followed the death of Forbes Burnham. Those who were opposed to Burnham had been leaving the country to the extent that the late Dr Cheddi Jagan claimed that the people were voting with their feet.
The Venezuelans may have also been voting with their feet. Those Guyanese who left never returned after Burnham died. Instead, more followed even when the government changed and Dr Jagan became President.
I remember asking him about this phenomenon. He responded that the people were leaving because of the pull factor. Many expect those Venezuelans who fled their country to return now that Maduro has left.
If the contention by Dr Cheddi Jagan about the pull factor holds true, then Guyana can expect more Venezuelans. The difference is that Guyana has no way of controlling any influx. Those who are here would have to find another excuse to remain here as refugees.
The Guyanese who left found many excuses. They claimed that they were fleeing persecution even after Burnham had died; they claimed that they were economic refugees. Others claimed that they were seeking a better life for their children.
When compared to Guyana, Venezuela would be a first world country. Conditions there would be markedly better than in Guyana. Claims of being economic refugees would not hold water especially since international agencies like the Inter-American Development Bank contend that 58 per cent of Guyanese live in poverty.
Guyana is no bed of roses. Mr. Nazar Mohamed has told a story that defies logic in any democracy. His story is one of being disposed of his property by the government.
This story goes that he bought land during the tenure of the Granger administration. He said that he holds all the documents. The constitution states that property in Guyana can be privately owned, with individuals and entities possessing full rights to the property.
However, Nazar Mohamed identified a government official who he said told people that land was being given away and that they should occupy it. The land in question is said to be owned by the Mohameds.
Then heavy duty equipment was deployed to clear the land. Mr. Nazar Mohamed said that he went to the location to halt any work on the land. The heavy duty operators refused to heed his instructions. He said that he then sought the services of the police.
What he says next is difficult to believe. The police went to the location to enforce the law of the land. If a man owns property, then no one can usurp that property.
It would seem that the police were heeded but there were consequences. Those who performed their lawful duty were duly transferred with immediate effect. This sends a most horrible signal to the rest of the country. Your property is not safe because if you seek help those who need you, once you are in government employ you could be disciplined.
This is also an indictment of the government. The Ministers all swore to uphold the constitution. Even the Police Commissioner took a similar oath. It must be that an oath means nothing.
What is worrying is that the government is encouraging lawlessness. This is the government that targets squatters. Just recently, the government went after people who are squatting on lands at Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara.
The contention is that the people are on lands designated for the water people.
This is the government that has posted signs across the country proclaiming that squatting is illegal. It moved with a vengeance against some residents of Mocha for allegedly being in the path of a roadway.
This is the government that flooded lands at Success, East Coast Demerara to rid it of squatters. But here we have a government sending people to squat on privately owned lands. Of interest is the fact that the land is owned by Nazar Mohamed, a man who was an active supporter and financier. He is now a political opponent.
