PRESIDENT Ali’s address to the nation last Saturday assured Guyanese that this nation is practising international relations with a policy of diplomatic good conscience, always seeking to cement peaceful resolutions to international conflicts and disagreements, including the Venezuela-induced border crisis. It is commendable and exemplary, this approach of the Guyana Government to engaging with the world, deliberately adopting a policy of peace, progress, and genuine care for a world that works for everybody’s benefit, with justice, fair play and dialogue the preferred policy. No matter how terrible Venezuela might appear to be today, with its illegal arrest of 12 Guyanese fishermen in Guyanese territorial waters, Guyana would exercise patience and diplomatic finesse in dealing with these unwanted international situations. President Ali’s assurance to the nation is a welcome sign that government is acting with decisive good sense, rather than choosing to react with emotional irrationality, impatience and indignation against the Venezuelan illegality. In life, fighting fire with fire and practising the tenet of a tooth for a tooth is unhealthy in today’s world order. And the Guyana Government understands the nuanced approach that is needed at this delicate hour of the Venezuela border crisis, with the International Court of Justice ruling just around the corner.

Although the average Guyanese sees Venezuela’s aggression against their nation as enough to warrant a response of tough fighting back, especially with emotions running high, President Ali gave a calm and measured assurance to citizens that the best way is the path to peace, and so government is working with diligence and focus on a peaceful resolution to the vexing border crisis. The aggressive excursions of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, would not dictate Guyana’s choice of how to respond to threats and intimidation from the troubled neighbouring country. Venezuela’s military navy arrested and imprisoned 12 Guyanese fishermen in Guyana’s territorial waters off the Waini coast, and since then, the world came out in strong, unanimous support for Guyana’s territorial integrity. Venezuela seems to care less what the world thinks, and although Guyana with a strong heart of good conscience and goodwill towards its fellow nations of this global village, exercises exemplary patience, noble restraint, and peaceful diplomacy in its response, President Maduro’s rhetoric remains harsh, hard, and headstrong.

The Guyana Government, in its measured, reasonable, rational response, resorted to networking with nations around the world, gathering a host of encouraging official declarations of support for the Guyanese fishermen. In fact, the enormous wave of international support for Guyana in this crisis is much cause for great celebration; the world stands with this nation and Venezuela cannot win against world opinion. Guyanese can take heart that their government is wise enough to know how to play this diplomatic game. Venezuela and its aggressive approach to dealing with its neighbour cannot dictate the Guyanese preference for peaceful means to settle differences. All indications point to Guyana triumphing at the International Court of Justice, winning Venezuela’s irrational claiming of Essequibo. Justice, fairness, and favour are with Guyana, and it is only time before Venezuela’s border claim becomes a passing dot on the history map of the Region. With that confidence, President Ali addressed Guyanese with assurance, a measured calmness, and full confidence that this crisis will be resolved peacefully and to the full satisfaction of the Guyanese nation.

This kind of wisdom is encouraging, because Guyana and Venezuela share a long tradition of cooperation, love and gentle care for each other. The two nations have always watched each other’s backs. Indeed, when Venezuela flourished as an oil-producing nation, many Guyanese families benefited through trade, migration, and socioeconomic cooperation between the two South American partners. One really is at a loss as to why President Maduro assumes such an aggressive stance against Guyana of recent. One could speculate that it may have something to do with Guyana’s oil find, and ExxonMobil’s involvement in the Guyanese oil-and-gas industry, after Venezuela had nationalised its oil industry, knocking Exxon from its Venezuela perch. But whatever the motivation of President Maduro, the Venezuelans know that Guyana is a friendly and ready neighbour to them, willing to open its arms to help them through their rough patch these days.

One recognises that Venezuela is under tremendous social and economic pressure, internally, and internationally, with world powers anxious for regime change and for the re-opening of the country. It is a sad situation and Guyana somehow got caught in the middle of the whole geopolitical fiasco. It takes a Guyanese Government of wisdom, skilful diplomatic finesse, and excellence of leadership to weather this crisis and come out not only triumphant, but as an aid and help to Venezuelans.
“We always choose the path of peace and the rule of international law to resolve our issues. We will remain firmly on that path, while we pursue justice for our country,” President Ali said in his address to the nation, and that policy decision is one that every Guyanese resonates with, for this nation is indeed a peaceful people. Guyanese could be assured that the Guyana Government is exercising the kind of leadership and policy direction that would resolve this Venezuela situation with peace and satisfaction to all Guyanese.