Dear Editor,
The anticipated ‘appropriate’ SVG dialogue between the leaders has taken place. A joint Declaration was issued, with the maintenance of the zone of peace its running thread. We can breathe some relief at the reprieve offered to weeks of heightened tensions. From the Declaration, it can be discerned, Venezuela, it seems, gets to keep its seven point plan of annexation, with the appointment of a governor for the Essequibo region among other considerations, following its referendum, still in place. It even appropriated funds in its 2024 Budget for the implementation and development of its plans for the region.
From a layperson’s perspective it is posited, that while peace and stability of the zone was a major outcome, the takeaways for Guyana seems clouded in the Declaration. The Declaration, it is posited, did not go far and wide or deep enough for impacting outcomes. I suppose this is what was meant by ‘false expectations’ not to be encouraged. The CARICOM leaders in attendance who, it is perceived ‘enjoy exceptionally close relations with the Maduro-led administration’ (Demerarawaves Dec 14) is something to ponder.
Given the prior stance by the Venezuelan President, where orders from the world’s highest court were brazenly and wantonly flouted and defied, it has to be wondered, can we trust and expect the Venezuelan President and Government to honour and uphold this Declaration they helped to craft? Time will tell.
Sincerely,
Shamshun Mohamed
