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Venezuela arms build-up must be carefully monitored

Dear Editor,
In the Guyana Chronicle of October 6, 2008 a letter captioned `PNCR statements totally irrelevant’ and penned by one T King was published.

It is absolutely prime material for the trash can and I wish T King to understand that his penned views, assumptions and concepts are not held by all Guyanese.

First, I want to make my position clear, I am not a supporter of the PNCR or the PPP/C or any political party in Guyana. Once I am clear on this, I hope T King will understand that I am a Guyanese with an independent view.

Venezuela’s arms build-up, no matter how innocent it may appear has to be carefully monitored and evaluated. This is not a time to sit back and blindly accept promises of “everything is alright” while moves to arm are moving apace. This has absolutely nothing to do with the ability of the Guyana Defence Force.

Sure enough President Chavez is not dumb because he has the ability to influence lots of T Kings. Make no mistake, Venezuela still has its eyes on our Essequibo.

I don’t have time to talk about party members still being in the GPF and GDF, these are institutions designed for the Guyanese public and T King or his aides cannot stop the public from becoming members. T King seemingly does not even realize that GDF, GPF and other forces serve him with pride and honour.

One question, have you ever heard of Sir S Ramphal, Rashleigh Jackson or Fred Wills? These are just a few, but politicians changed the border confrontations through diplomacy. It was never Guyana’s strategy to invade or claim part of Venezuela, our army was designed to be small and efficient and it has delivered on its role of protecting Guyana’s borders.
Yours faithfully,
Ashton Simon

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21 Responses to “Venezuela arms build-up must be carefully monitored”

M. Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett
on October 10th, 2008 6:43 am

Monitor Venezuela’s arms build-up? Great idea. So what are some concrete things can Guyana do if said monitoring reveals covetous eyes?

[Reply to this]
Side Kick
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 7:52 am:
Well said.

[Reply to this]
quibian
on October 10th, 2008 1:31 pm

if venezuela invades essequibo. all we have to do is ask bush for help. he would be more than willing to attack venezuela, after all they have lots of oil.

[Reply to this]
JB
on October 10th, 2008 4:03 pm

does anyone remember the song from the 80’s “NOT ONE BLADE OF GRASS”

[Reply to this]
M. Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett
In reply to the above comment on October 10th, 2008 7:39 pm:
Aha! We’ll play it at 200 decibels and deafen the invaders.

[Reply to this]
Johan
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 12:54 am:
Alyuh can laugh, but between Trade Winds and Burnham and Lord knows who else, they stopped that invasion from happening back then - and I don’t think it was we military. Ankoko gone but we still have essequibo, right?

Tell me something, people: What did we do at school when some big bully just kept picking on us? (Hint: let’s say we have an even bigger brother - at the same school)

Rather than waiting to play victim, cry foul, or just fold our hands and say, ‘Hmm, what can we do?’ I’m for getting way out ahead of this, doing whatever it takes, to protect our territorial integrity, including unholy alliances.

[Reply to this]
M. Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 8:28 am:
Define clearly & specifically: “doing whatever it takes.”

Johan
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 4:06 pm:
If one of us knew, it probably wouldn’t make sense to spell it out in the news. This is cheerleading, M, with a push for proactivity. It is not farfetched to say Suriname can come out of this militarily stronger than we are and with stronger ties to Venezuela. I’d sleep better if I know Guyana is playing this to the best of her ability, and now, when it’s only an ‘arms buildup.’

If, when this is all over, Guyana is a little more secure than it was, I’ll be happy to swallow the ‘whatever it takes.’ Cheerleading is all we can do.
Get Real
on October 10th, 2008 5:48 pm

Well the GDF, or the GPF are not capable of fighting for their country, because they cannot not even clamp down on the crime in Guyana so how would they defend their country with what cutlass and sticks. Yes I remembered that song NOT A BLADE OF GRASS if I am not wrong the group that sung that song is the TRADEWINDS ” and they are still singing and doing great in Canada. Okay they can ask Bush for Help if he is still around and not in prison because he will get a lot of OIL.

[Reply to this]
Caesar
In reply to the above comment on October 10th, 2008 8:38 pm:
The GDF are still on the parade field.Learning to do what is a mystery. Certainly not fighting.That recent Sandhurst (we do not know for sure if this guy is that qualified) declared individual is suposedly a teacher of sorts for these Guyana “defenders.’

[Reply to this]
Charriot
on October 10th, 2008 8:23 pm

Here is where Mr. Oliver Hinkson’s expertese can be greatly utilized. This is his forte.

[Reply to this]
Caesar
on October 10th, 2008 8:39 pm

No blade of grass. But Venezuels still occupies Ankoko.

[Reply to this]
bbuckman
on October 11th, 2008 1:30 am

The psyche of the nation depend on its strenght.this will lead to confidence building.
The govt must, I say must, map out a plan for the nation defense.
The Venezuela faces no threat from it Latin American neighbors. This collection of arms by chaves is subverting his neighbour, and use against his own people while he consolidates pwr.he has dreams of grandeur.
This man had the statue of Jesus in his hands while using profanity. During an interview. He insulted the king of Spain, for which no Latin American forgave him. Such is the mind set of chevas.

[Reply to this]
Caesar
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 3:53 pm:
During he Spanish Inquisition,some English sailors embarked on the docks at a Spanish port. Unknown to them, the baby Jesus was being passed around in a basket.Because they did not bow in the direction of the infant ,they were at once thrown in irons, and charged with heresy.

[Reply to this]
JUAN Gabriel
on October 11th, 2008 1:43 am

Caesar, while monitoring your blogs I can only conclude that you are a very bitter individual with an axe to grind. GOOD LUCK.

[Reply to this]
Caesar
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 3:49 pm:
Nope. Just a plain speaker.I am only expressing an opinion like anyone else. We all are free to have our own views.There is no conflict here. Conflict only arises when individuals try to inpose their views on others.There is no imposition here.My regards to you. Caesar Agustus.

[Reply to this]
Caesar
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 3:50 pm:
Where are you from Juan?

[Reply to this]
Dino
on October 11th, 2008 12:20 pm

Venezuela’s arms build up is being done at the same time with two other finincial partners or sympatisers (if you wish to say that) of Guyana i.e. China and Russia. Although it’s possible invading the Essequibo is on Mr.Chaves’ agenda I would think it seems as if they are preparing to counter attack the U.S when the time is right, after all they are anti-American countries with economic and military might.

[Reply to this]
bbuckman
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 12:06 am:
my one yaer at war college,advance course,does not prepare me to accept your view.

[Reply to this]
Caesar
on October 11th, 2008 3:56 pm

I do not agree with their president’s policies,but,actually, I like what Venezuela is doing.Minding their own busines and doing what other nations are doing. Buying arms.

[Reply to this]
Arnold
on October 11th, 2008 7:03 pm

We must not try to drown ourselves in a spoonful of water.
There would never be a Millitary invasion by President Chavez, he always talks about his neighbours Colombia, Brazil and Guyana must live as one, without greed, for one another’s wealth or land, but to help one another when needed.
With surplus petro-dollars he’s buying millitary hardware for his country’s protection.

[Reply to this]