UNDERSTANDING the current turmoil in Venezuela requires looking at same through complex lenses. The presence of shortages in some sections of the society is underpinned by many factors, including their local and external politics and developmental ideology. The present situation is not void of the revolution impacting on, and response to it by a status quo with dissimilar ideology, the decline in global oil prices, instances of poor management of government, and economic implications that come with the Barrack Obama government declaring the country a national security threat.

Whereas Venezuela is a natural resource rich country, it has within its midst a significant number of poor people. During the presidency of the late Hugo Chávez, the country saw the adoption of a socialist ideology and the implementation of a programme, known as the Bolivarian Revolution, which reportedly had among its aims addressing socio-economic inequities in the society.

The socialist ideology, which saw more state control in sectors such as oil, received criticism and condemnation from internal and external quarters.
With the passing of Chavez and the subsequent elevation of Nicolás Maduro, though not of similar charismatic and political savvy, the dissatisfaction of the ideology and programme grew louder.
Compounding this is that Maduro’s presidency in itself is not without controversy, as it remains tenuous, with the Parliament moving to have him impeached and amidst grumblings in a population living under the present conditions, whether persons think it is his doing or agents sabotaging the revolution.
Notwithstanding the border controversy, Guyana shares diplomatic relationship with Venezuela, and the two countries are members of Union of South American Nations (UNASUR). Venezuela played a significant role in the establishment of this hemispheric body (2008) during the Chavez presidency, with the English-speaking Caribbean, which led Guyana to becoming a member. This hemispheric bond has seen intensification in cross border trade between Brazil and Guyana, and Venezuela and Guyana. In 2013, the Government of Guyana added Portuguese to the already offered Spanish in the high school curriculum, with a view to breaking down language barriers to enhance trade among the countries.

At the regional level, Venezuela and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) shared a free trade agreement that saw CARICOM countries, in the first five years of said agreement, being allowed to export goods manufactured in the region to that country tax free. Though this agreement is tax exempted between the partners, CARICOM countries enjoyed the concession five years before same kicked in for Venezuela.
The intensification of Venezuelans coming into Guyana came as a result of the country’s present socio-economic and political climate, which has contributed to shortage of essential foods and other items. In such circumstance, history has shown that there has always been an intensification of cross-border trade with the country that is more stable. Outside of this category of persons (i.e. traders) visiting and those who engage in hard core criminal activities, there are those who come here — though breaking immigration laws, which should not be countenanced in principle — seeing fleeing to Guyana as opportunity for betterment for self and loved ones left behind. And to the latter group, moving the humanitarian element becomes a factor for consideration.

Guyana has had little experience in handling situations of the nature presented by Venezuelans, save for the period when large influx of Brazilians entered illegally into our gold mining sector. It is recognised that the Government of Guyana’s position is gradually evolving on how to treat with the Venezuelans, and this is understandable; and it may be of some utility to learn from, and build on, the Brazilian experience.

President David Granger himself said last week that Guyana will, on humanitarian grounds, assist Venezuelans and persons of other nationalities, should they find themselves fleeing from their countries as a result of economic turmoil or political persecution. But despite the foregoing, President David Granger said, assistance will not be done haphazardly. “We are not going to simply open our borders to people who are causally drifting in…but if there is evidence of political persecution or economic deprivation, we are prepared to give favourable consideration to this.”

The President said, too, that Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, has been apprised of Government’s position on the matter, and will act accordingly. For while the situation that led to Venezuelans’ movement has its complexities, it is not a Herculean task that cannot be handled through humanitarian perspective, conscious of the historical relationship the countries and peoples share. From a national interest perspective, where the Venezuela Government continues to hold spurious claim to two-thirds of our territory, any act that is considered anti-humanitarian is not deserving in this situation. Borders and laws are made to govern society; providing order, discipline, and security in all forms of existence within. Where any or all of these is or are threatened and people flee, their circumstances need to be examined within the existing context, not in the traditional manner.