Dear Editor,
Veteran PPP Marxist stalwart and its former Minister for 23 years Clement Rohee, in a media commentary last week, urged that the Guyana government immediately seek the assistance of the USA to counter Venezuela Maduro’s serious threat to Guyana’s territory. This is a welcome strategic shift and suggested tactical realignment in Guyana’s foreign relations. This is a reversal of
attitude towards the USA by left wing Guyanese who consistently and habitually described the USA as the premier imperialist nation — a view that is in opposition to longtime political activists like myself and colleagues who had consistently rebuffed the left wingers and advocated for a friendly Guyana alliance with Washington. My colleagues and I had long seen the USA as a guarantor of security (and democracy) for Guyana and accordingly recommended that position. It has been in Guyana’s geostrategic interest to ally with USA.
Venezuela is claiming Essequibo, some two-thirds of Guyana. Venezuela has scheduled a referendum on its claim for December 3 although there is a case before the ICJ on the matter. The Irfaan Ali administration should heed the advice of their senior socialist member and seek help from USA as well as the UN to counter Venezuela’s planned actions regarding our territory. The matter of the referendum and the military buildup on Venezuela’s side of the border are serious threats to Guyana’s sovereignty and should immediately be brought to the attention of the UN Security Council. The UN would take appropriate actions. The world would get to understand our predicament and sympathize with us. Guyana should also raise the matter with allies at all international forums and organizations of which Guyana is a member and other regional organizations around the globe. Guyana must seek help from everywhere, presenting its case that the claimed territory belongs to our country and that the matter is before the world court awaiting a judgment.
The United States, the reigning superpower since the end of the Cold War in 1990, has announced support for Guyana. The US would gladly embrace and enter into a strategic military alliance or partnership with Guyana, especially since Venezuela under Maduro has a problematic relationship with Washington and has allied with American rivals Russia and China.
The USA has been watching keenly Maduro’s moves in Guyana. America considers Guyana of strategic value to its economic and security interests. And with recently discovered huge reserves of oil and gas, America would push back against any move to seize Guyana’s territory. With the Middle East in turmoil and the war in Ukraine, Guyana’s energy is critical to USA and the west. But the security of our natural resources is under threat. Guyana and America have a mutual interest. Such common interest is conducive to a security pact.
Georgetown should heed Rohee’s advice to ask Washington for help. More than that, Guyana should begin charting a new course of strategic partnership with America. Such a move finds support among the diaspora in conversations I have had with them. Guyanese Americans should lobby and pressure politicians in Guyana to enter into a security alliance with USA. They should also lobby Congress and the White House for such a security pact. It is in their interests as well as those of relatives back in Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Vishnu Bisram
