I HAVE had an opportunity to read at lengths the responses of the opposition here with respect to the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy and all the drama unfolding. I have also had the opportunity to listen to acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez’s response to President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s recent complaint to CARICOM.
Firstly, I unequivocally support President Ali’s recent action with respect to protesting the wearing of a pin or brooch of a map which falsely depicts part of Guyana’s territory as part of Venezuela, while on an official trip within the CARICOM. I believe that the president’s missive sent to CARICOM was decisively clear and worded strongly. It called on all the CARICOM countries to reinforce the treaty of Chaguaramas and principles of international law. It reminded member states that only recently CARICOM gave its full support and backing of Guyana in the border controversy at the International Court of Justice. It made it clear that CARICOM practises respect for territorial sovereignty, while reinforcing these countries undeniable right to have bilateral relations with whomever they please, even Venezuela.
The president’s letter spoke to consequences of the false symbolism while this case is receiving the attention of the ICJ. It mixed or minced no words and CARICOM responded almost immediately restating that Guyana’s has its full and unwavering support. I think his actions were enough to expose the hidden agenda of Venezuela’s action in the region at this point and time.
Secondly, Rodriguez knew what she was doing and did it anyway. She knew that the ICJ would be listening to oral remarks from both sides tomorrow. She was subtle and smart, but then was found out. She is very disrespectful and crazy to try and pull that shenanigan off in our region and backyard.
I think her response was poor and weak. For the record, Guyana does not care how she dresses or what she wears, just do not seek to convey the false impression that Essequibo belongs to Venezuela. It does not historically and factually. There is not one iota of evidence to prove that claim. She would be better served looking at the state of Venezuelan people and getting the socioeconomic welfare of the country back in order. I think as an ex-foreign minister of her country, it was in bad taste and undiplomatic for her to behave so poorly.
Rodriguez lied. There is no scandal involving President Ali. I do not care if Rodriguez read and knows from her so-called history books that Essequibo belongs to Venezuela, because that is not the case. She, like a very few people in Venezuela, have been misled from childhood because Essequibo has been and is part of Guyana’s territory. I would advise her to burn those fictional books and gain access to truthful, factual and unbiased information.
Thirdly, I am ashamed of the opposition in this country. They should be standing firmly behind the President on this matter and not criticising him publicly at this time. They are seeking to score cheap political points and muddy the waters. If I were the opposition, I would have blistered Venezuela and stand firmly with Guyana. I would have initiated a private call with the head of state or foreign affairs minister to state my concerns about the government’s handling of the controversy and sought clarity about various developments. I would not issue a ‘ghetto’ press release, criticising the government over its “strategic vision.” Who does that? That is cutting the nose to spoil the face. The PNC, FMG and WIN need to behave much better with matters of this nature. Venezuela is looking for everything it could find to help its case and the opposition does not seem to understand this.
All the strategic plans are in place and well advanced. Every single thing Guyana is doing is to ensure that Essequibo remains intact. I am truly disappointed by the PNC, particularly, for this childish missive to the press.
Finally, Delcy’s disrespect is not new. It comes on the heels of disrespect for the recent ruling of the ICJ in which it has jurisdiction to determine the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the court unanimously ordered Venezuela to avoid altering the status quo in the disputed Essequibo region, where Guyana exercises control.
The ICJ even on May 1, 2025 reaffirmed its December 2023 order, specifically directing Venezuela to stop conducting elections or administrative acts in the territory. Yet, Maduro, Rodriguez and Venezuela continue to provoke Guyana. Delcy ‘gonna get it right’ and stop provoking this country. She is going to stop poking the bear.
In the meantime, tomorrow the hearings on the merits of the case are set to begin.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.