Vision Guyana Chairman Peter Ramsaroop last week said he is disappointed with the government and opposition’s response to Venezuela’s apology over the recent invasion at Cuyuni.
In a press release Ramsaroop said citizens are appalled that the government is “satisfied” with the Venezuelan response and contends that that country must compensate the Guyanese whose property was destroyed, in this latest violation of Guyana’s territorial integrity. “Vision Guyana reiterates its demand that Venezuela withdraws its claims against Guyana’s territory including the Ankoko Island,” the release said.
Ramsaroop, who is “a Presidential contender for 2011”, said one of the key areas of his campaign is the protection and sovereignty of the nation and “the need to mitigate any aggression by the Chavez administration and his claim to (three-fifths) of Guyana.” These issues ultimately limit Guyana’s ability to grow and is a major deterrent to foreign direct investment in the region, he said.
The group said leading geologists have opined that that area contains one of the largest basins in the region where oil can be found and contends that it is preposterous for President Hugo Chavez to claim that “he is for poor people, yet [he is] stifling” Guyana’s quest for oil and economic benefits that will take the country out of poverty.
Vision Guyana also reiterated its call for citizens to petition the government to utilize all and every means necessary to deal with this threat. The group said it is necessary to build a Guyana strong enough to prevent further aggression and to ensure that any claim to Guyana, by the Venezuelan government, is immediately removed.
