Dear Editor,
His Excellency the President recently told the nation of his exploits and benefits to the nation in the important area of Foreign Affairs. We were told that over time he has met with sixty Heads of State. This is laudable and impressive.
However, examining relations with our three neighbours, of which we have borders, Venezuela to the West, Brazil to the South and Suriname to the East require considerable care and caution. His Excellency can be well advised to secure the experience and wisdom of persons who understand the need to tread carefully in dealing with our neighbors.
The criticism I make is for perhaps for parochial reasons or a fear to seek advice outside of the comfort zone of party faithfuls, no matter how inept and having a narrow vision our President is unwilling or unable to get over this debilitating hurdle.
In his recent proposals to have the bridge across the Corentyne river to connect Guyana to Suriname, I sense that our Government is unaware of the history of the two now independent territories and the lingering beliefs and attitudes extant to our neighbors to the East.
As a youngster, a member of the Queens College Troupe 27 Scouts, we hosted a Scouts Group from Suriname. It was friendly and we had fun but I recalled that the Scouts from Suriname were satisfied. However, there was no doubt in the mind of these Boy Scouts who came, that as they said the Corentyne River up to the high water mark on the Corentyne Coast was theirs as advised in their history books by the Mother country Holland.
Recall on August 18, 1969 residents of Suriname had been in occupation of an area of land known as the New River Triangle and thanks to the bravery of Pilots Roland Da Silva, Michael Chan-a Sue and Captain Jardine, newly independent Guyana was able to expel what we believed to be intruders.
Eight months earlier, on the 2nd of January 1969, the same pilots among others were able to put down what is now known as the Rupununi Uprising initiated by a group of Ranchers and trained for this adventure in Venezuela for reasons which are not obscure..
As a primary school student, the eldest son of my Mother’s sister, Mrs. Racar visited. His name was Roland Racar. At the time I didn’t understand the significance when in speaking with my Mother, his Aunt, told us that being half Venezuelan and half Guyanese, he was concerned that we were not handing over part of Essequibo to Venezuela. I remembered this as an adult and political figure, we had to grapple with this notion by Venezuela that all of Essequibo was not ours.
But back to President Ali’s bravado about building a bridge to the East with the cooperation of Suriname. Without settling with unambiguous language is the question of the Corentyne River. It is true that in the case of Suriname, Guyana can muster a superior military force to Suriname, but notwithstanding the experience we’ve seen in Asia, Europe , Africa and other parts of the world. Brute force now that there is the oil dimension ought not to be an option for Guyana.
We’ve seen tribal, ethnic and other conflicts in Rwanda, Africa, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Pakistan and many others bring devastation, death and distress to citizens who on both sides of our rivers and borders should be able to enjoy the benefits of the Creator’s bounty.
President Ali and His Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Works, if they truly care and understand, should tread with great care and perspicacity, seeking the advice of Guyanese at home and abroad with the necessary skill and maneuverability. I know that these announcements sound good and can excite Guyanese that we can have a bridge so we can travel with ease to Suriname, Cayenne and parts of Brazil.
You see Editor, the earlier examples that I gave about my childhood suggests that succeeding generations, growing up in Suriname and Venezuela truly believe the narrative they heard and attitudes ingested from childhood. These are not easy to change. What the Government ought also to recognise is that when Government changes in neighbouring countries, attitudes could change overnight.
With Venezuela, I am aware how the likes of Guyanese Jai Narine Singh helped to ease tension between Guyana and Venezuela and that President Carlos Andres Perez, for whatever reason wished to find the modus vivendi.
In Suriname if there is a change of Government, who knows whether whoever is heading that new government would truly believe all of the Corentyne River up to the high water mark is theirs and the logics would suggest any bridge, no matter how high is it, would be the preserve and property of the Government of Suriname.
It is not necessary for the purpose of this letter to deal with our borders and neighbours to the south and west, save as a nationalist and a patriot to advise President Ali to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s before advancing on this bridge project.
I hope that someone would listen and not believe that every observation of criticism made is seen as an act of hostility. Many of us who make constructive criticism are because we wish to help and to make optimal use of our God-given resources.
Yours truly,
Hamilton Green
Elder
