‘Take note Guyana, be wise(r) Drs. Ali, Jagdeo’- Lall

By GHK Lalll- Reports are that the U.S. removed the head of Tren de Aragua, Nino Guerrero. Reports hail the close cooperation between the U.S. and Venezuelan Bolivarian Armed Forces in the joint operation that knocked out Senor Guerrero. Did my fellow Guyanese wrap their arms around that news?

Has Pres Ali allowed that to circulate in his head, strike any available chord? T repeat so that this fully registers: the U.S. military working with the Venezuelan military. There are special relationships, then there are extra-special friendships. Guyanese had better get smart. Get some real understanding about how superpowers function. There’s no emotion. Only vision and ambition.

I predict many such US-Venezuela joint military ops. First question: if the U.S. is fighting alongside Venezuelan soldiers today for American interests, is it going to fight against them tomorrow for Guyana’s interests? Whenever 11 is superior to 300, maybe. When the cumulative business opportunities of Guyana are greater than Venezuela’s, when there is more oomph to what this country has to offer, that could place it first in line. Try these math examples.

Pick a starting number. Assume that Guyana has US$100 billion in infrastructure works. Venezuela is in such a dilapidated state, that a cool US$1 trillion is merely the beginning of the conversation. Keep it in American dollars and the Americans will keep coming. How does Guyana compare to that, can begin to compare? Guyana has a million citizens, with a half million likely to be hobbled by items taken on ‘trust.’

Venezuela has between 25 and 30 million people, which means that Citibank, Bank of America, and JP Morgan Chase will go near the heavier customer traffic. There’s a load of underground pent-up Bolivarian pesos. Like a restless volcano, outlets are needed. Drug millions, Guyana gold money. and other stashes dug up from backyards and deposited into interest-bearing and investment advisory accounts. It’s Wall Street time. Goldman, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase (again) and Citigroup (again) represent the business of America -Big Business with Big Uncle.

What does Guyana have to attract those American commercial powers, can then spice up its credentials as the U.S. best friend? As a relationship more special than that of a flexing, growing, high-stepping Venezuela? How when the bulk of the money in Guyana has already been shipped out, will continue to be shipped out without any holdup?

Just like that, Guyana went from Third World to First World (in the heads of Ali and Jagdeo) and down to a fifth wheel to a bus. The latter is due to the gritty and shifty maneuvers of Senora Delcy. I tip my hat in recognition of a woman who outflanked all the baad men in the PPP Govt. I cautioned them, urged them, even begged them: stop wasting time with perceived Guyanese enemies. Look to the Northwest. There the real enemies of country and party reside.

Here are some other gut checks for Guyanese (all those “Essequibo is ours” patriots). The U.S-Venezuela relationship is poised to go from strength to strength. The US-Guyana special friendship becomes an inconvenience, a hindrance to neighboring business and progress. People like Drs. Ali and Jagdeo suddenly find themselves in the roles of party-poopers and nuisances. For sure, the mutually comforting speeches and warm camera smiles and handshakes will continue.

But it is goodbye to U.S. pressure on Venezuela, U.S. animosities against Venezuela. Delcy Rodriguez pulls the right cards, plays them as if her life depended on them. It does. Has the U.S. ever liquidated a woman president? Always a first, if needs be. Amid all this, I feel sorry for Excellency Ali. This is his reward for that monkey on Guyana’s head: sanctity of contract. What men do doesn’t live after them, but with them. So long.