THE high-level visit by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to Essequibo today, for what has been carded as a “Rally for Guyana”, could not have come at a better time.The slogans exhibited on banners and bumper stickers say it all. The visit comes on the heels of the landing at the Kaikan airstrip — well within Guyana’s territory — of a Venezuela military helicopter. Whether by design or by mistake, Venezuela had placed boots on Essequibo, the beautiful and bountiful county closest to her. The incident could be explained away as a mistake, but when viewed in the context of the expansionist design of the Venezuelan ruling oligarchy to annex the entire Essequibo county; the occupation of one half of Ankoko; the false claim to Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone, with our vast petroleum and natural gas resources; and the economic/trade embargo against Guyana, nothing could be seen as a chance occurrence.

Essequibo might long be seen as the “Cinderella County,” and has, no doubt, suffered more than her fair share of neglect. She has taken blows occasioned by contracting prices for rice and paddy, but Essequibians would not tolerate any action by Venezuela to take away the golden shoe of their country, which is her rich natural resources. On this issue, all Essequibians are united, and the chorus “Not a blade of grass” would pitch high today in an expression of patriotism and loyalty to Guyana.

Essequibians cannot forgive the Maduro administration for imposing a trade embargo against Guyana, which ended the sales of rice/paddy from Essequibo at prices higher than those on the world market. The scuttling of the PetroCaribe deal was a blow to Essequibians, for whom “Essequibo is rice and rice is Essequibo.” How much the former PPP regime knew about the conspiracy to stop the rice deal has been a matter for discussion; and although that party may wish to say that its hands are clean, when former President Bharrat Jagdeo stated that he could give away to Venezuela a channel that could lead to the precious oil resources in our maritime zone, we know on whose side than party’s leadership stands. No wonder the desire to give away our land did not find favour even among that party’s leaders, one of whom — former President Ramotar — commented that Jagdeo should shut his mouth.

The new coalition government has placed on the front burner the defence of Guyana, and has spared no effort or resource, though limited, to rally support or strategise fora — including the United Nations, the Commonwealth and CARICOM — for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. For the coalition, Guyana’s borders come first, as President David Granger told Parliament at the same time the new government mounted an aggressive campaign to seek alternative markets for rice and paddy; and the GRDB has reported some progress on this front.

Essequibo, however, needs greater help to ensure all pumps are working, farm-to-market dams are fixed, kokers are fixed and are operational, and other assistance is given to farmers and fishermen. Government has since moved to rescue coconut farmers with some $50 million allocated to fight red palm pests, and moves are afoot to re-introduce the police floating station in order to help combat piracy.

Our newspaper rallies with Essequibo as her children reaffirm — with flags, slogans and songs — their unity and love of both their county and our country.