Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 20, 2019 Features / Columnists
Two Thursdays ago, i.e. 10th January, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) boardroom was transformed into a reflective environment. This soon became very emotional and touching when former Foreign Affairs Minister Rashleigh Jackson, who played a pivotal role in prosecuting the border controversy in the international arena, teared up as he delivered a presentation at a symposium hosted and organised by the GTUC.
Jackson was at the time reading excerpts from a presentation made by then Prime Minister Ptolemy Reid to the United Nations (UN). In that presentation, Reid described himself as citizen of Guyana, born and bred on the Essequibo Coast, but confronted with the circumstance that he could be deemed an alien in the land of his birth whenever he returned to Guyana.
His foreboding is somewhat real today given Venezuela’s continuous pursuit, threats and publicised false claims. For instance, Google (Spanish language) sees Venezuela naming all the streets in Essequibo as belonging to it. Its pursuit, while not grounded in logical justification, has seen its citizens, regardless of political divide, united behind the leaders in this claim. We, as a people and country, ought to be examining Venezuelans’ increasing presence in the border towns and communities.
What are the likely consequences for us, though mindful that acceptance and accommodation are consistent with UN’s humanitarian standards and requirements? As this migrant overflow is taking place there is need for understanding and vigilance, given those affected hold allegiance to Venezuela, and already see Essequibo as part of Venezuela. Such socialisation can lead to action that could pose challenges in the future.
We should recall and revisit the necessity of two acts by the Forbes Burnham government, which could be seen as activities to stem Venezuela’s aggression. These were: 1) the establishment of Matthew’s Ridge as a major city and new capital for Guyana; and 2) the presence of National Service Centres in interior locations which would have seen the development of permanent communities that would have created population movement in that direction. Had these projects continued, they would have served as preserving our communities from acts of aggression and violence Guyanese now face, living and trading in those areas.
Former Chief of Staff and current Pro Chancellor, University of Guyana, Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh, another presenter, detailed the geography of the claims made by Venezuela and the impact these have had on Guyana’s development. He reminded the gathering as to the time and location when Venezuela made efforts to grab land or sea in the Essequibo region. He made a nexus between the activities of Venezuela’s military and its government’s action, which lend understanding as to how involved and deep-rooted the claim is by various actors in that society.
The construct and impact of Singh’s presentation brought to the fore a greater understanding as to the sense of awareness of the behaviour required to safeguard our territorial integrity. It was a refreshing exercise, coming after a period where nationalism has not been used in driving a united position in defence of our country.
The primary presenter, Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, made clear an understanding of uniting as a people. He explained Guyana’s position as it relates to pursuing a settlement at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and advised what the claim means for this country being able to pursue, freely, our economic development.
This controversy has implications for us being able to exploit our oil and gas resources for the benefit of Guyanese. The recent incursion by a Venezuelan navy ship that caused Exxon Mobil – who was carrying out exploratory activity in our EEZ- to leave, reinforces and exemplifies the threats and challenges being faced by external forces.
At the internal level, such sabre-rattling could threaten the fabric of the nation, as a single unit, and people pursuing common destiny, goals. This we must be ever vigilant to, and mindful to avoid at all costs. In light of this threat, every Guyanese is a solider, a defender of truth, our borders, and the resources lying within the bosom of this nation.
At the same time, Russia’s increasing economic and military interest and presence in Venezuela, current global political dynamics, and oil and gas exploration here being done by Western countries are noted. The petroleum industry in Russia is one of the largest in the world and the country considered the largest energy user. Such presence, and in light of recent allegations of electoral intervention in Eastern Europe, Middle East and more blatantly the USA, these manoeuvres have not escaped the concern and attention of the GTUC.
Russia, too, has interest in Guyana’s bauxite resource, being the major shareholder in the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), which the previous Government has given leeway to do what they want with Guyanese labour and flout our laws. The current regime, whether in opposition or government, has made no effort to rein them in. The political cannot be divorced from the social and economic, for they are all intertwined.
The symposium was ably moderated by former Minister of Education, Labour and Regional Development, Jeffrey Thomas. He noted that Guyana in 1962 was able to prepare its citizens on the ground – from the schools to the communities- in awareness and defence of the claim to the nation’s sovereignty and integrity.
The 70 attendees included GTUC President Coretta McDonald, yours truly, executive, and branch members from the various unions, in and out of the fold, including the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).
The symposium was to educate workers on the Venezuela/Guyana border issue, and aimed to also bring to the awareness of workers, the potential impact of the current aggression as Guyana is on the brink of pumping oil and gas.
That we can all be the beneficiaries of protecting our sovereignty and territorial integrity is not an understatement. This is no easy threat as a small state, having to justifiably confront an increasingly aggressive bigger state, with military might, internal political instability, and muscles it wants to flex.
Even as Guyana awaits the determination of the ICJ, it behooves us as citizens/workers to continue our vigilance, to be ever watchful. The GTUC plans to carry this initiative around the country as national service, as part of preparing the nation’s consciousness in defence of Guyana’s border intrusion. The Congress sees this form of interaction as contributing to workers’ training and education, aiding the process of participatory citizenship, being more empowered to participate in the economy and nation’s development as a whole.
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
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