Dear Editor,
Reading the Guyana dailies one is prompted to ask the query as to whom does Guyana belong? Why is Venezuela making these unilateral proposals?
First, I was informed that Venezuela proposes to build a road through Guyana to Suriname. Then a few weeks later I am told that Venezuela proposes to build a pipeline through Guyana to Suriname. At no time did these two articles mention that Guyana is agreeable to either of these two ventures traversing its territory.
It seems to me that the intent of both proposals is exactly the same. First, if we can’t get a road built then let us propose a pipeline, with the caveat of giving some gas to the unsuspecting host.
The question is, at what juncture would Guyana be allowed to reject or accept this devious proposition?
Would it not result in the same objective being achieved by Venezuela? Would it not require an access road running parallel to this pipeline? If Guyana is reluctant to give access to a road, then is it not possible for Venezuela to achieve their objective by building a pipeline? A pipeline that requires an access road to maintain this gift of a pipeline? Then Venezuela would have captured two birds with one trap.
To repeat myself, Guyana must never allow a pipeline or road to be built by Vene-zuela, when Venezuela is desirous of dividing Guyana along some contrived line that they have demarcated?
Both of these proposals are lacking what is most needed, and that is the revocation of Venezuela’s stated intent to pilfer from Guyana, under some false pretence, what is rightfully Guyana’s.
What is eerily lacking is Guyana’s objection to and rejection of any proposal from Vene-zuela to either build a road or pipeline through Guyana when Venezuela has made crystal clear its intent. Why are Guyana government functionaries going to Venezuela to discuss them? In addition there is the fact that these proposals are terminating in a country which has claimed Guyana’s territory while it was presumed that Guyana was asleep.
It is my expectation to see some form of rejection on the part of Guyana, telling Venezuela that Guyana is not for sale or plunder, and that no pipeline would be allowed to cross Guyana’s landmass until a statement is made to the international community withdrawing the claim to the very territory that Venezuela would like to purloin.
It is irrelevant whether Guyana would benefit from this pipeline or road. We have seen what Venezuela is capable of. We should not forget the dredge caper where Guyanese mining properties were destroyed under the premise that they were operating in Venezuela’s territory.
It is preferable for Guyana to continue suffering its hardships rather than face more severe hardship in the future. A future that will inevitably cost us lives and consternation. A word of mouth guarantee from Venezuela would not suffice. Anything short of an international revocation of Venezuela’s claim would not suffice. It is unfortunate that we cannot trust our neighbour, but it is preferable to be safe than sorry. A letter or some other written notification to the United Nations would be acceptable, and serve to placate the national apprehension and inherent fear and doubt that any Venezuelan intent invokes.
The Government of Guyana should be very clear about notifying that these two ideas could only come to fruition when Venezuela has shown that it has an honourable intent. The government must also request the expertise of the international community, including environmentalists to determine the effects on the plants, animals and rivers of a pipeline and road. The government must also query who will monitor this pipeline running through Guyana’s territory and never agree to any military presence.
Then and only then should Guyana consider any proposal of a road or pipeline emanating from Venezuela and terminating in Suriname.
Yours faithfully,
Patrick Barker
The proposed road from West to East, ie from Venezuela and continuing to Surinam raises a number of serious thoughts for our Decision Makers.
There are Forestry Trails that connects Venezuela say thru Barimata to Buck Hall on the Essequibo River. So the road connection /alignment already exist.
The oil pipe line most likely would follow the accepted road allinement on its way to suriname.
At crab island on the Berbice River where the bridge crosses, there is some discussion of an oil refinery to be established there.
There is a battle in the brains of the Government to accept renewable energy, which to this date they have not approve ie The Amalia hydro progect. Guyana needs cheap and renewable energy, as a matter of fact the World too.. Burnham tried with Hydro ie the Upper Mazaruni hydro project, but failed due to acts by institution from top, eg WB. The Govt always talk, but do not act. Sign the MOU to purchse the energy that that is to be generated by The Amalia Hydro project. The Tumatumari Hydro on the Potaro River used a Drum of Grease, a Drum of Lubricating oil and one or two worker per year. That how cheap it is. The British destroyed it before they leave. Guyana need its own. Procrastination is the thief of time.Guyanese lives need to be elevated, submerge the the basin and generated the electricty. This will solve job poblems, bring social stability etc.
The road has some pros and cons that need indepth thoughts.
Crude oil from the pipe line going to Surinam could supply the proposed refinery, who knows.
Venezuela exports Hydro generated Electricity, probably Guyana will import it. Mostly like it will be transported along this road lignment.
Every Guyanese as I know it , like to have their own, whether it is a house etc, so collectively Guyana should strive to have its own.
25 years of rights to explore for oil by oil giants will stall oil exploitation every 25 years, and the cycle will continue, because multinationals are like that. A sealed well exist at, i think in the muslim mosque yard opposite the Seldon Estate Compound since about 1964, at Anai area in the Rupununi.
The Road is a good thing.but would it kill or cause us to loose sight of having our own?
DG50
You have mentioned some very interesting facts here, since I were a kid, there was mention of oil exploration in Guyana. These oil giants are not dumb people, if they wanted to find it, it would have been found by now.
An oil pipeline thru Guyana is the next best thing. We can run it straight along Regent street to double as a great tourist attraction. LOL. In any case it will bring in billlions of dollars in leased rights. and as you mentioned, why not run some power lines at the same time.
President Chavez will be very nice to us for that priviledge, because it would be like having his tail in the mouth of a mangy dog, but a dog never the less. Besides if he decides to cause any trouble, big brother USA will be only too willing to riddle his pipeline full of holes.
When that happens, all GAP1 would need is a couple of plastic buckets and a plane ticket to Guyana. Crude oil might be selling for $200.00 per barrrel by then, He may become the first Guyanese oil baron in history. LOL
Joe.
Well said Patrick. This government has a beg and borrow policy, no pride, they will accept anything from anyone at anytime. I once had a conversation with a US State department official and that’s what he told me. At that time US/China relations were not good. He said that Guyana will accept a gift fron China today and beg them tomorrow. He said that’s one of the reasons the US have no regard for Guyana. Plus he mentioned the corruption.
So you want Guyana to be an American pawn and support its imperialist ambitions around the world.
Shocked,
You may be surprised to know that America has been borrowing every penny it can get from some of the poorest countries of the world in order to support it’s lifestyle of unrestrained comsumerism.
India, China, Saudi Arabia are just a few of the countries that are holding Billions of US dollars that are now devalueing real fast. This was done to stave off hyperinflation. Now with the Banking industry meltdown, the chickens are coming home to roost.
It is a horrible mess created by the Federal Reserve and Americas fiat money system. the entire world will suffer, why? because the very same people who owns the Federal Reserve and controls the American political machine, also owns Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, De beers, the Bank of England, the IMF, Haliburton, Main, and Bechtel to name a few.
When this same banking cartel proposed setting up this same monetary system in Russia, President Putin resisted and instead relied to their new discovery of oil in Russia to set up their own monetary reserves.
Now all the major G8 countries are seriously looking into an alternative world currency. Major oil deposits were found in the former soviet states surrounding Afganistan, Those states still have a beef with Russia and prefer doing business with America. America is proposing a defensive shield to be set up in Georgia.
Oil and the continued dominance of the US dollar in world affairs is very serious business. We may be witnessing an escalation of further wars.
Joe.
This road and pipeline idea is a fishy thing, indeed, as long as Venezuela’s territorial claim remains extant. Frankly, I like Hugo Chavez and he may have good intentions, but Mr. Chavez will not be president forever. His successor could be a right-wing hawk ready to roll his tanks and forces through the proposed road right up to Vlissengen Road and our Presidential Secretariat. I urge the Guyana Government to say “Thanks but no thanks” to Venezuela.
Who is advising the government on its foreign policy? Someone who has no experience in international affairs, international relations, international law and any other such disciplines which are helpful in helping her to understand the issues at hand given venezeula’s claim on five eights of Guyana’s territory. The all seem to be fooled by Chavez and his guile. Because his representative to Guyana says that he will not oppose Guyana’s pledge to the world forest in the so called dispute area that he is a friend and good neighbour. The venezuelans did not oppose Hoyte’s initiative which resulted in the Iwokama program.
I bet the response would have been different had he decided to put the so called disputed territory to productive use…remember Beal? Some one in another thread talked about the limited memory of Guyanese, they are so right, sometimes I think we are a bunch of ADDs.
It doesn’t seems like Guyana would be able to access oil very soon,we should consider the Venezuelan offer.
“Guyana should not be considering a road and pipeline from Venezuela”
Well said, Patrick, period! And for all the obvious reasons.
First time hearing of this proposal – well said Patrick, now it waits to be seen what the Govt will do
President Chavez is negotiating a 2 billion pound military equipment deal with Russia. Oil pipeline or not ,he can squish Guyana like a fly.
He is also inviting Russia to conduct joint oil exploration ventures in Venezuela. this is a smart idea since Russia has developed the technology to drill down to between 17,000 and 23,000 feet where you will find an abundance of oil period.
However he is not playing by the rules of the rulers of world government. He is selling his oil at bargain basement prices, while the world rulers are fighting wars to maintain control of oil prices.
He is playing a dangerous game, the world rulers would send their military arm to squish him like a fly. I do believe that his pipeline to Surimame is to allow the Netherlands shipping rights, taking away control from America.
If Russia gets involved in oil exploration in Venezuela, that country will become an economic powerhouse. The last thing on their mind would be a couple of acres of disputed jungle territory, especially in view of the fact that America may be looking for any excuse to unleash their dogs of war to regain control of oil trade in the region.
Joe.
Guyana should take up this deal but negotiate a deal to have Russia set up oil wells in Guyana along the pipeline. All they have to do is drill into the earths crust above the mantle and presto all the oil you need comes gushing out.
Just remember the old saying, do not pray for what you want, you may be unlucky enough to get it. All the oil producing countries except Kuwait has an increasing gap between rich and poor. this happens because where there is tremendous wealth, along comes tremendous greed and wars.
Joe.
America would not allow Russian oil companies to set up shop in a region they consider their backyard barn, hence the need for a neutral intermediary the Netherlands. I may be wrong, but that is the only strategic reason I can see for bypassing the only english speaking country on the continent.
Joe.
Joe, you’re wrong, and for your own reasons, not ours, because you’ve got an opinion, not an idea at Guyana actually coming away a winner!
Now sleeping with the enemy could become appealing to me if previous attempts by the Guyana govt to “open up top Venezuela” have not been met by Guyana being left with holding the blade.
Now I would welcome a debate providing you can demonstrate to me where did it benefit Guyana under the Chavez Administration not to develop its own oil resources and not have or be asked to a play supporting role to Venezuela? In Fact Chavez has even been the one to say a loud, NO to oil exploration on the Essequibo!
I can’t find a prededent, loud and clear, Joe, can you!
Come on! Put it out there to scrutiny! And let’s debate the issue. I start by saying, you’re wrong!