Dear Editor,
Some new insight on foreign policy in Georgetown has been presented in the editorial headed ‘lran,’ which states that, “President Jagdeo’s famously ad-hoc foreign policy just turned out even more random than usual” (Sunday Stabroek, June 13). A credible rationale drew attention to the sober fact that the President was “moving Guyana out of the Western arc and into the ambit of countries on this continent which have close relations with Iran, namely, Venezuela, Cuba and their allies.”
This new development is ominous indeed, if Guyana is seeking to firmly position itself around Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela and Iran. If not exporting ideologies, or seeking to exploit Guyana for political and economic gains, none of the countries can claim to offer any help to preserve Guyana’s security and economic integrity.
Guyana’s mineral resources have long become the envy of her powerful neighbours, and these countries are seeking to stake their claims over these. They seem to have already bought over Guyana’s docile and malleable politicians. With no real commitment to the people, these politicians could be easily be swayed with cheap ideologies and quick money. The real danger is that Guyana could end up in its old subservient role as a colony, with the emerging superpowers as its new masters.
Guyana has had long and well-established, cultural and economic ties with the US, Britain and Canada. Guyana’s economy has been heavily dependent on remittances from the western countries over the decades. The vast influx of Guyanese migrating to the western countries, are the people who have been propping up Guyana ever since Independence. They continue to make enormous sacrifices, despite the downturn in the economies of their respective host countries.
This new policy shift has to be a real kick in the teeth to them, and especially to those in low-paid jobs and in poor housing in foreign lands. Their sacrifices in sending remittances to families and communities have helped to rescue Guyana. Their efforts confounded a dictatorship, and they contributed much to breaking the stranglehold on an oppressed populace which once faced hardship under the vindictive banning of food imports. Yet inept politicians can see no further than spewing contempt at these very western states, which are the backbone to Guyana’s funding source, and which are the hosts to more than half of Guyana’s population as established migrant communities.
The future of Guyana is coming under increasing threat from a new brand of indoctrinated, self-centred politicians whose thinking is rooted in alien ideologies. Their vain attempts at state control have all led to further economic decline and poverty. Their random and ad hoc policies have pervaded the nation and are tearing at the very fabric of society. The new czars are now preparing for a new orbital shift that would deliver Guyana into the hands of a new, powerful group of predatory states.
Guyana has long lost its will for transparency, accountability, security, justice and law and order – the fundamental pillars of any decent democracy. Without any democratically formulated foreign policy, the politicians are free to eschew responsibility and adopt only those which suit their personal ambitions. Oblivious to their obligations to the people, they do not see protection of the citizens of Guyana as paramount and absolute.
Venezuela has registered a claim to three-fifths of Guyana. Venezuela has also prevented Guyana from exploring for oil on its sovereign territory and has left the future of Guyana hanging in the balance. This will put a brake on development here until some time in the distant future. Yet all the politicians could offer to the citizens is to behave as good and docile neighbours, and by default imply acceptance of the spurious claim.
President Jagdeo was told that the Kurupung hydro-power project was seen by the Brazilians as a step forward to Guyana becoming integrated with Brazil. Strangely, the politicians seem little perturbed about the seriousness and gravity of such a statement. Brazil has voted against the latest of a series of UN sanctions against Iran. Guyana has refused to state its policy on the sanctions. Perhaps directives are being awaited from outside. In the meantime, President Jagdeo has merrily invited the Iranians to gain a foothold in Guyana on the pretext of doing mineral mapping. A MOU with the Iranians was signed in Georgetown with strange urgency.
No sovereignty issues were aggressively pursued, as with the offer of UK funding for the security sector. The UK offer was made to help beef up and modernize Guyana’s poor and ineffective police and security system. The funding was subsequently withdrawn and re-directed elsewhere. By adhering to divisive double-standards and ad hoc policies, the politicians have ensured that the people of Guyana will be deprived of improved policing and security.
Iran’s offer to do mineral mapping should have set the alarm bells ringing in Georgetown. The Trojan horse should not have been taken at face value, and allowed through the gates without close and thorough scrutiny. The protection of sovereignty should have been aggressively pursued in the same way as with the rejection of the UK funding. However, Iran is freely welcomed into Guyana. Sovereignty is seen as no risk, as it was with the UK.
The Iranians are fierce defenders of their own sovereignty and with borders heavily defended. Anyone caught loitering near their borders is quickly arrested and marched off to prison for spying. Guyana cannot make any such claims, as many Brazilians would not have been allowed to roam about freely to mine Guyana’s gold and destroy its precious forest.
The Iranians should not be mistaken as innocents, who will gladly conduct mineral mapping for the pleasure of inept countries who are unwilling to do it for themselves and for their own protection. Iran is yearning to be the mighty pre-Alexandrian powerhouse, which once ruled from the Mediterranean to the Indus Valley. Its ambitions stifled by a series of UN sanctions, they are determined that nothing will stop them from becoming a dominant world power sooner than later.
Becoming a nuclear power is a seen as a crucial step. Despite all their overbearing denial rhetoric which they are selling to corrupt countries like Guyana, it is doubtful that their overblown demand for enriched uranium will only be used for peaceful purposes.
They are anxious to do mineral mapping to meet their own needs. In addition to the mapping of other minerals, the Iranians would be moving to source uranium deposits.
Having Guyana in their pockets and next to their allies Brazil and Venezuela will play greatly into their hands. The Iranians have become ruthless experts at UN sanction busting. Guyana’s porous borders with Brazil and Venezuela would be a blessing in disguise to them.
Using ghost ships that cannot be easily traced will further help them defy UN sanctions. These vessels are known for changing their names and ownerships changes like chameleons changes colour. Guyana, however, could get easily caught up in its own web as an accessory to UN sanctions-busting.
Yours faithfully,
Mac Mahase
