BY Audley Phillip
On December third, the people of Venezuela will take part in a referendum that could very well have a far reaching effect on the stability of Caricom and more importantly on the viability of one of our Caricom member states.
The Maduro Government of Venezuela is asking its citizens to vote “YES” if they are in favour of Venezuela taking over the Essequibo region of Guyana and giving Venezuelan citizenship to the current residents in the Essequibo region. The referendum is all but certain to succeed.
Venezuela is maintaining its claim to some 70 percent of Guyanese land in the Essequibo region and more importantly, Guyana’s offshore oil, gas and gold reserves. Venezuela’s position is that a 1899 agreement which at that time had determined the boundaries between both countries, is null and void.
Venezuela continues its overt thrust to Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and Caricom has been mostly silent, perhaps because of its existing sweetheart oil agreement with Venezuela.
This issue is not going away anytime soon and it is clear that Venezuela is upping the ante in its quest to claim and take over that region. Caricom needs to urgently take a stand. Venezuela’s annexing and claiming the Essequibo region is not far fetched by the look of things. The referendum currently being undertaken by the Maduro regime is just the first step in this process.
While Caricom sleeps and tries to pander to both sides, the annexation of Guyana’s Essequibo region is a very high probability and we might be witnessing another Crimea or Ukraine in the making. Guyana’s tiny defense force is no match in terms of manpower and equipment for Venezuela’s military.
It is a very serious situation that threatens to undermine the security and stability of the region and more is required from Caricom in order to prevent what could be a catastrophic dilemma right in our backyard.
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The colonialists dividing, partng up and allocating lands to who suited their interests at the time of their conquest, is the cause of al the land problems today. Singing about one blade a grass can’t change a thing. And for Caricom, what a waste. Guyana and Guyanese don’t really mean a thing to them. Ask us who have to travel, live and work in these islands, and ask Haitians. Those who want our oil, are waiting there to swoop in, to drain us, to pauparize us. Then they will take sides, in their interest. Then the corrupt politicians will be bought out. Then the bombs will fall, from those who will keep their countries intact, whilst making us another Haiti. When will we learn our lesson? Guyana and Venezuela better come together and find a solution to this situation. Who wins? It won’t be the Guyanese or the Venezuelans.
Greed is the cause, of all these #wars, rumors of wars…until the philosophy which holds one Race superior, and another, inferior, is finally abandoned and destroyed, everywhere is #wars, rumors of wars.” Words of Prophet Priest King Emperor Haile Selassie I.
Kaiso_Time Boi! Hey!
#Yes_Indeed!
🎼🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶🎶🎶
🎼🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹
🎻🎻🎸🎸🎻🎻🎷🎺🎷🎺
🪇🎤🎤🎤🎤🪇🪇🪇🪇
…Greed! Greed! Greed!
…And, more greed! Greed! Greed!
…#Yes_Indeed! #Yes_Indeed!
…it’s good, that some are taking heed!
…by putting their wants, before their needs!
…but, the way this thing is looking
…GT could get, a good bombing!
…and, ain’t a damn thing! No! Know!
…CARICOM! Nor #CARRY_GO_BRING_KUM
…is gonna be doing! Not one damn thing!
…except, take this up their ass and tongue lashing
…‘cause, not one single shot!
…they’re gonna be FIRING!
Jah_Lumbah! Jah_Lumbah! Ah wey Carter!
Dem, cyan Fire #SHATS in Antigua, Barbuda & REDONDA
but, me know Reis! And, dem nar goh phuck, wid Venezuela!
#Yes_Indeed! Oh! Gad? #Yes_Indeed!
Like Gaza! Plenty might start to bleed!
So, the crooks, gangsters and money barons!
Down to the wicked politicians!
Dem, better take heed!
And, forget about; all this damn greed!
#Yes_Indeed! Boom_Bam! #Yes_Indeed!
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De ‘ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
I always fear for any Caribbean or African territories that discover oil in the sea, or other rich land based minerals.
Whereas Caucasian oil discovered countries seem to FLOURISH, BUILD and GROW, but our regions get destabilised or destroyed through greed, mercenary activities; outside governmental interference, coups and overthrows or even worse … wars!
Praying that Guyana 🇬🇾 is well aware of the above, and breaks this terrible historical cycle of loss, jealousy and wanton destruction by outside influences!
I have expressed for the Government of Antigua and Barbuds to form a Intelligence and National Security Unit (INSU) but as always nobody in authority looks is pragmatic in Antigua and Barbuda.
This article is the perfect example of the need to have such unit. Which begins analyzing internal and external threats to the country and region. To prepare and mitigate. Even able to timely request assistance from major powers like the US, England, etcetera.
Thanks for this informative article.
@ my way of thinking, I am absolutely flabbergasted that Antigua hasn’t got any such Homeland Security Unit.
I really despair for the country 🇦🇬 that I love at times like this …
Mr. Phillip, thank you for your commentary. I wasn’t aware and for the most part I’m sure most Antiguans were not aware of the pending referendum. I would hope the UN would step in here but that organization is the largest BOONDOGGLE ever conceived.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Guyanese_general_election
2020 Guyanese general election
Snap general elections were held in Guyana on 2 March 2020. They were called early after the government of President David A. Granger lost a vote of no confidence by a margin of 33–32 on 21 December 2018,[2] the government having held a one-seat majority since the 2015 elections. However, one of its own MPs, Charrandas Persaud of the Alliance for Change (AFC), voted with the opposition.[2] Granger announced on 25 September 2019 that the elections would be held on 2 March 2020.[3]
I always wonder why this guy Audley Phillip can go on giving himself out as an authority on topics he know nothing of. Anyway. I would rather listen to Sir Ron Sandars Opinion. Although I don’t agree with his views either. Because he speaks from a very bias position. It is his home country.
The Europeans have come to these lands and raided and killed the indigenous people. Thereafter they brought in African Slaves. After they saw no more economic benefits in the slave trade in exchange the then majority of the people there the land and said you now are independent. Questions therefore remain. Whose land are they allowed to give away. I mean history has taught us that all of the Americas were inhabitant by the Indians. various tribes such as the Arawaks. (The Indigenous peoples of South America or South American Indigenous peoples, are the pre-Columbian peoples of South America and their descendants. These peoples contrast with South Americans of European ancestry and those of African descent.)
Anyway the history is very rich. We the African Slaves and thereafter the Contract Workers from India and Indonesia that were brought here by the Dutch and British, now claiming these lands as ours. Anyway going back to Africa was not a choice for many. Not after 300 years.
Ever since the Guyana election of 2020, which many would remember was very controversial. And the USA even threatened some of the politicians and place them on a blacklist of ever granting them a visa. Ever since I saw the writing on the wall. The USA wanted to use Guyana as a spring board to attack Venezuela. As we all know Venezuela sits on the largest oil field in the world. So when people say that Venezuela is after Guyanese oil I just have to laugh. Because they have oil to last them for decades to come. And since America cannot control Venezuela is a thorn in their flesh. Because they are already losing their grip on Saudi Arabia with Prins Mohammed bin Salman, who in a public diplomatic way gave Biden the middle finger when Biden went to ask his support for increasing the oil production after they placed sanctions on Russia.
The Caribbean has long been a very peaceful region, but it seems that it will not be for long if America gets its way. At all cost they want to control the largest oil field in the world. And Guyana will be the pawn that will give them that option. And Audley CARICOM Leaders are not idly sitting by. They are threading a fine diplomatic line.
For the past years during the annual UN General Assembly many Caribbean Government have been calling on America to lift u the sanctions from Venezuela and Cuba. But America doesn’t care what anyone says or think. They do what they are bound to do. Take control of the oil. Trump openly said it. We need to go in and take the oil he said. He even said America should have taken the oil in Iraq. so the playbook is clear. The problem is when will they implement it. You have seen Guyana making all kinds of Military Agreements with the USA, while Venezuela was making agreements with Russia and China.
And let me tell you within CARICOM, Guyana and Surinam have not settled their borders either. So in that case which country will you support. This are the remnant of Colonialism. We now have to go and clean up the mess left behind by the British and the Dutch. The same way they left a mess between the Israelites and the Palestinians.
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