Venezuela has no claim

Dear Editor,

Who is afraid of Venezuela?

There has been a constant flow of opinion outside this country that ‘Venezuela has a claim’ on Guyana. Such statements aid and abet the claimant. A claim can only be taken seriously if evidence is shown that a party has had proven possession or ownership. This does not exist in their case. The situation is they challenged the 1899 Tribunal and since then they cannot produce anything to show the status quo should change.

The lack of economic development in the Essequibo often decried by Guyana’s leading politicians is to do with their leadership.

Yours faithfully,

John De Barros