Reliable sources have confirmed that American Military Advisers arrived in Guyana on Tuesday, November 28. It was also confirmed that the top brass of the Guyana Defense Force has been meeting with the Military Attaches of several countries that are friends and partners of the English-speaking South American nation.
There is little doubt that the US Military Advisers have landed in Guyana because of specific threats by Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, whose regime wants to annex nearly 2/3 of Guyana’s territory. Large American companies, including ExxonMobil, are heavily invested in Guyana’s oil sector. The current Guyana-Venezuela borders were defined by an Arbitral Award in 1899. Guyana currently has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, while Venezuela is practically bankrupt.
A significant number of Venezuelans are currently seeking refuge from the oppressive regime led by President Maduro. The country faces a daily crisis involving shortages of essential goods such as food, medicine, and housing. Many Venezuelans are crossing into Guyana, seeking political asylum, and the Guyanese government is providing necessary facilities by UN refugee resolutions.
Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has explicitly stated that the Venezuelan refugees must be treated with respect and decency. Guyanese must show compassion to those fleeing Maduro’s authoritarian rule, highlighting the stark disparity where only 10% of the Venezuelan population enjoys a decent quality of life. In comparison, the remaining 90% struggle to provide for their families. The situation in Venezuela is dire, and Maduro’s attempt to distract the populace through a questionable referendum is seen as a diversion from his failure to address social, economic, and political issues.
The responsibility lies with President Maduro to ensure the well-being of his people by providing essential services such as food, housing, education, and healthcare. However, Maduro appears to prioritize maintaining power, often allocating significant resources to the military to secure his position. This has resulted in widespread suffering among ordinary Venezuelans.
Maduro’s leadership is widely regarded as a failure on multiple fronts, and there is a prevailing belief that the upcoming general election will be manipulated in his favor. The plea to Maduro is clear – focus on addressing the basic needs of the Venezuelan population rather than engaging in questionable political tactics and illegally claiming the Essequibo region of Guyana. Essequibo belongs to Guyana.
Moreover, there is a stern warning to Maduro regarding territorial claims. Accusations of illegitimate attempts to claim Guyanese land are met with defiance, emphasizing that Guyana belongs to its people and any encroachment will be met with resistance. The message underscores that international military alliances are closely monitoring the situation, ready to respond should there be any military incursion by the Venezuelan army in the Essequibo region. Let’s hope common sense will prevail in the minds of Maduro and his military regime.
Special reporter, London, UK