Dear Editor,
With the Ankoko affair and the Rupununi uprising, you come to realise that the Venezuelan past government meant business and the present one still means business. All eyes are on our wealth in the Essequibo region; these people will not shy away from our minerals, because they know that Essequibo is rich with petroleum and other resources.
We will not allow Venezuela to invade our land and take our wealth; we must be prepared for a long and difficult struggle in which we will, of necessity, meet with setbacks and disappointment. But given our genuine commitment to the cause, our President will win out in the end.
We have travelled a long way from the harsh, unlovely days of colonialism. We still have a long way to go to attain our goal.
But we are marching now. We have the people and we have the will in President David Granger. We must never forget that Venezuela has made many incursions across our western border and annexed our part of Ankoko island in front of our eyes in 1966. After the annexation the Venezuelan flag was burnt and a vociferous demonstration took place in front of the consulate in Middle Street, George-town. Here again Venezuela was allowed to violate international agreements as it pleased and flout the United Nations and the Geneva Agree-ment.
It has been reported that there were intensive movements of troops and equipment on the western border of Guyana. I remember when I was living in Venezuela, at the opening and the ending of television broadcasts, Essequibo was included on their maps; the leaders of that country were teaching their young and old generations that Essequibo belonged to Venezuela. I realised that it was a deliberate attempt by the Government of Venezuela to retard the economic development of Guyana through the intimidation of those genuinely prepared to contribute to its development and to assist in the advancement and economic well-being of its people.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
