This is the time for one voice on the security of our borders and getting maximum benefits from our resources
What follows is a matter of some urgency. It is a plea for all of our purported national leaders to recognize that the drum-beating and verbosity from our western neighbour gives us an opportunity to set aside our differences to act responsibly and with courage so that the magnificent resources: manganese, gold, diamonds, bauxite, fertile lands and now oil are not dissipated and be a millstone around our necks.
Forgive the anecdote but if we don’t walk carefully on oil, every child will tell you, we can slip, fall and cause injury. When Maduro announced his Referendum, I told a senior government functionary that this whole border issue can be a damp squib if handled with adroitness and calm. That this so-called controversy must not be used as a distraction, as a cloud disallowing the people of Guyana to see the deeper issue involved.
For, the success of any protagonist, whether it be boxing, cricket, football, you must know the proclivities, beliefs, strength and weaknesses of the adversary. The old folks would say study the nature of the beast.
Our western neighbour is in the back-to-the wall survival mode encumbered by a background and faith by its orthodox religious beliefs and whatever may be our cultural background we must take account of the other man’s beliefs and habits and a world we live in that is shaped by conquest and an addiction to harmful conflicts.
Even when great nations and leaders agree at solemn ceremonies and truth pacts motivated by self-interest and sometimes bullyism these pacts are not only renegotiated but violated. We’ve seen these lofty principles trampled upon, even today we’ve seen evidence of this from both sides of what we’ve been told make up the democratic system. The Middle East today is a classic example.
Second, Guyana ought not to treat this matter in isolation to its new found mighty natural resources, oil and gas. Oil, gas and gold have in strange ways started extended conflicts depending on those who have the might and technology. Note the purported lifting of sanctions on Venezuela by the great and even though a little weakened, still the greatest nation did not act capriciously but in what may have been considered in their best interest. Guyanese leaders should note the cautious rhetoric from China and the deafening silence from India on this so-called border issue.
Third, this issue which surfaced before and after we hoisted the Golden Arrowhead on the 26th of May, 1966 must not be seen as unrelated to the thousands of barrels of oil and the tons of gold, manganese, and bauxite in the Essequibo area. The wisdom articulated by eminent Statesmen and Philosophers said that we should have ‘
no permanent friends or permanent enemies, but only permanent interests.’
Fourthly, Maduro’s adventurism or exposure of a few loose screws in his personality, means that he senses the weakness of a chink in our armour. Be that as it may, the present situation gives us a golden opportunity to ensure henceforth that as a Nation, we speak with one voice on matters of importance, on matters that will determine whether Guyana becomes Glorious, Great and Prosperous or inglorious and deficient.
The two vital matters are (a) the security of our borders and (b) getting maximum benefits from our Godgiven resources.
The opportunity is for our political leaders to manifest the words in our National Motto of being ‘One People, One Nation and One Destiny.” The opportunity should allow us represented by our political leaders on both side of the divide to say to those who are harvesting our nonrenewable natural resources that we demand, we respectfully request and that we ask on behalf of our ancestors, our contemporaries and our descendants that we sit around the round table, ask and get much, much more, I repeat much, much more than they are getting for oil, gas, diamond, bauxite, gold etc.
With less than a million souls and resources much more per capita than any other country in the world, it is absurd that we should be borrowing money. In fact, Guyana being one of the architects of the Caribbean Community, if we demand more, should be able to help some of our small island neighbours, particularly when they face earthquakes and hurricanes unknown to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
In short, Dear Editor, all that is necessary is for our leaders to be bold, to be sensible and put an end to the divisive rhetoric and behaviour which has suffocated our country. If we spoke and acted in unison, our neighbours and developers will know that we are dealing with a Guyana that is united on two vital issues. For emphasis, the integrity of our borders must be sacrosanct and equally important that the natural resources must be exploited on terms that benefit all Guyanese and that would be much more than we are getting at the moment.
On my way from the East Coast, the radio was playing a popular ballad of by-long times “Some things are better left unsaid,” but Editor , this much I say. Not for the first time “United we stand Divided we fall.”
I am sending a note along the lines in this letter to the President, the Leader of the Opposition, the General Secretary, PPP, General Secretary of the PNC, and Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, Leader, AFC.