Dear Editor,
The provocative Venezuelan border build-up is, at the risk of understatement, ominous, and calls for round-the-clock vigilance. There must be a calm, level-headed response, and this is already under way with the United Nations involved.
While such action is proceeding, the Guyana government must move full speed ahead to recruit the US and Brazil (and others) to stand in support, while its precarious physical position is bolstered. Perhaps, it already has done so behind the scenes, and is a beneficiary of the appropriate reassurances.
Meanwhile, army personnel should have their contingency plans and assets drawn up and positioned to make potential adversaries think twice and carefully. This has to be a continuing state, as this issue is not going away any time soon, and more so now that oil is part of the mix. No Venezuelan leader (political, military, or social, among others) can run the risk of relinquishing this claim that has come to life again. That would be out-and-out suicide. And so, this albatross will hang around and over the head without interruption.
Last, all Guyanese (all) need to stand to attention, rally around the flag, and be ready for any eventuality. We desire peace, but any miscalculation on anyone’s part as to our resolve would be costly on every front.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
