Blog

And it was one of several communities in Regions One and Seven the President visited on Thursday with several other officials including the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Omar Khan.

But why did the Commander in Cheif visit the border communities?

With the planned referendum, residents in Kaikan and every other community he visited, be it Mabaruma, Port Kaituma or Baramita, told him they are concerned about any further aggressions from Venezuela.

The President reassured them that they had nothing to fear. He told them of widespread support from the international community, including the United States (US), the United Kingdom and Brazil alongside support from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Commonwealth.

President Ali also told Kaikan residents that both the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are boosting capacity to monitor the shared border more effectively, assess intelligence received and respond to any potential threats even though Guyana does not expect any “reckless” actions from Venezuela.

And Dr. Ali highlighted that Guyana is before the World Court and has been following all the judicial processes it has to. So what he articulated was that Guyana has all of its bases covered, that is, on the diplomatic front, on national security and judicially.

His message wasn’t unnoticed or unappreciated.

“…Actions speak louder than words, he (the President) was here and he didn’t send the message with someone else.

“The message that he brought to us gave us courage and confidence… that we are not alone,” Kaikan resident Claude Anselmo said.

The community’s Toshao, Marlon Williams expressed similar sentiments.

“He (the President) indeed sent a strong message to the community, which we are very happy about. His assurance and confidence regarding the border controversy with Venezuela (helped make) community members get fully aware,” the Toshao said.

Importantly, the President told Kaikan residents that his visit to the border communities was a one-off trip. He said he intends on engaging these communities again and he will have his government ministers do the same.

The questioned was asked by student of the Bishops’ High School on Friday during a panel discussion and awareness session on the Guyana/Venezuela Border controversy.

Posed to three distinguished panelists – Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Guyanese Academic Dr. Mark Kirton and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greendige – the answers varied.

Mr. Greendige made the first attempt at responding and said the simple answer to that question, if there is one, was “we don’t know what (will happen).”

Notwithstanding, he said Guyana on the other hand, knows what it will do.

“Guyana has to confirm to international law. We have responsibilities, we have to protect our interest and that is what we will do.

“It is likely from what Venezuela said that they will continue with the referendum… the key thing is that at the level of the UN (United Nations) and of the Court (ICJ), it was made clear that they [Venezuela] are not empowered to act on whatever comes out of the referendum,” Greenidge, who is also Guyana’s Agent to the ICJ, said.

He affirmed that Venezuela cannot lawfully do anything regarding Guyanese occupancy of the Essequibo Region.

The second response came from AG Nandlall, who also noted that it seems impossible to get Venezuela to not proceed with the referendum.

He said that while they can go ahead with the vote, acting on it is something totally different.

“Let us for a moment interpret the tone and tannery of the Delcy (Vice President of Venezuela) to mean that they will not obey the Court’s process… not obeying the Court’s order is striking at the heart of international law, norm and legal order… they will be violating a World Court Order,” Nandlall said in anticipation that the Court will rule in Guyana’s favour and make provisional orders in that vein.

He said the ICJ is a Court that doesn’t stand alone but stand as the judicial enforcement agency of the largest global organization on earth – the UN.

With that said, he noted that no court is without the ability and capacity to enforce its own order.

And then the voice of Dr. Kirton.

“Diplomacy must continue to be our first line of defence.

“We need enhanced robust relationships with countries like Brazil and greater alliance with countries not only in this hemisphere but also with the African Union and the Brits, Russia.

“We have to go to all of those who have been in a sense on the fence and get the unequivocal support from our own brothers and sisters in the region,” Dr. Kirton posited.

The Venezuela referendum on December 3 asks the Venezuelan people to agree or reject the 1899 Arbitral Award.

They are also being asked to say whether they support the Geneva Agreement as the only means to settle the controversy. The referendum also includes a question for the Venezuelan people to say whether they agree with the Venezuela government for not recognizing the jurisdiction, or the legal right of the World Court.

The most contentious of the questions is the one asking the Venezuelan people to agree with using Guyana’s territory it claims, for the creation of a new State called the “Guayana Esequiba”, and grant Venezuelan citizenship and ID cards, and incorporate the territory on the map of Venezuela.

Venezuela’s referendum has been widely dismissed as having no validity, bearing or standing in international law.