Dear Editor,
Specifically, for the last sixty years British Guiana/Guyana, has been, and continues to be subject to the scarecrow tactics from the adjacent countries east and west of our territory chasing away the many investment birds that could without a doubt have carried us as far as or even further than a Singapore – and congratulations to them at 50! Instead Guyana moved at a snail’s pace becoming the laughing stock among states, many of which are minuscule in relation to us mainly due to these belligerents geographically trampling on our sovereignty.
Guyana must stand on its rights against the wild propaganda from Venezuela using the unsubstantiated words “reclamation zone.” One cannot reclaim something one never owned or possessed. This colonial megalomania stemmed from the 1800s as they became overwhelmed in the vast wilderness and thought among themselves they are the only beings in this Eden.
They seem to forget, or believe the world has forgotten, that they invoked the Rules of Arbitration and when the dust settled the British position was upheld and most of the Robert Schomburgk line was maintained to this day. Venezuela agreed with the ruling.
The panel of arbitration (courtesy of Wikipedia) included Melville Weston Fuller, Chief Justice of the USA; David Josiah Brewer (Member of the US Supreme Court); Sir Richard Henn Collins (Lord Justice of Appeal); Lord Herschell (Former Lord Chancellor) replaced upon his death by
Charles Russell (Lord Chief Justice of England & Wales); and the Chairman, Frederik de Martens (Russian diplomat and jurist). The final decision was handed down on October 3, 1899.
In the face of the belligerent propaganda directed to potential investors, Guyana must debunk their nonsense by disclosing the truth to all and sundry of their falsehoods. No further discussions needed. It goes without saying that the maritime economic boundary follows this
declaration without question.
The ever increasing avalanche of murders is a major disincentive to economic progress in Venezuela. On this score Guyana and Venezuela are both with spiraling crime rates. At least we have something in common. Talk about that and leave tranquil waters undisturbed.
Yours faithfully,
John De Barros
