Dear Editor,
I wish to register a strenuous objection to President David Granger’s statement about our neighbour to the west. Venezuela is not “a monkey on our back”; if history were still offered at the University of Guyana, we could easily show that Venezuela has been Guyana’s staunchest supporter from the fuel crisis in 1986 when we had no creditworthiness to purchase fuel supplies, to this day when we continue to benefit from the PetroCaribe initiative begun by the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.
Our President’s utterances display a lack of grace and gratitude for the assistance provided to us by the Bolivarian state, assistance that continues in the face of this provocation. Has our glorious leader considered the consequences of an abrupt end to the PetroCaribe arrangement? Guyana is already struggling to find markets for its increased rice production, and Venezuela pays a higher than world market price for the portion it takes; no one else pays close to that. No doubt we could find another supplier of fuel given the creditworthy state we enjoy, and the possibilities the ExxonMobil find promises, but rest assured, no deal would be as beneficial as the one we currently enjoy.
The solution to the recent decrees by the Venezuelan government lies in the area of diplomacy; former Ambassador Odeen Ishmael has offered advice that should be given serious consideration.
The President’s warlike rhetoric far exceeds the capacity of this tiny nation; our army is seemingly incapable of cutting the grass in Camp Ayanganna, a job which is outsourced to contractors. Having America on your side is a wonderful thing; it does not, however, make us the 51st state and one would be advised not to lean too heavily on a brother already carrying the large burden of being the conscience of the Western world.
The government and people of Venezuela have demonstrated strong friendship and support for our nation, and we should not let this special relationship that has developed over decades be destroyed by the promise of new wealth and friends. I ever have faith that the differences of opinion between our nations can be resolved amicably and without the need for empty rhetoric and name-calling.
The President should spare us the patriotic drum-beating while he drives around with Venezuelan gas in his tank.
Yours faithfully,
Robin Singh
