Dear Editor,
On Saturday, September 23, 2023, something incredible took place in Guyana that did not happen when His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali officially became the president of the country three years ago. And many, including yours truly, are baffled when it was announced that President Ali briefed the leader of the opposition, Mr. Aubrey Norton of the new threats to Guyana’s sovereignty from the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

Despite Mr. Norton’s refusal to shake Dr. Ali’s hand on more than one occasions, it did not bother His Excellency, who cast aside partisan politics, put the country’s interest first and acted like a mature statesman and discuss with the leader of the opposition, Venezuela’s ominous warning to use force to prevent the Ali administration from auctioning the oil blocks.

Frankly speaking, Maduro’s ill-conceived and baseless intimidatory tactics are meant to undermine Guyana’s sovereignty and its right to develop its resources to benefit its almost 800,000 citizens. However, at the United Nations annual general meeting of Heads of State, a confident President Dr. Ali rebuffed the Maduro regime for its vile and foreboding threats to use force against Guyana.

President Dr. Ali did not only displayed statesmanship in communicating with the leader of the opposition who has been antagonistic towards him since he was sworn in as President on August 2, 2020, but he also exhibited courage and buoyancy by putting the country and its people ahead of self and discussed the menace posed by Venezuela.

President Ali has steadfastly and resolutely maintained that the oil blocks are within Guyana’s legally defined and internationally recognised boundaries which was settled on October 3, 1899, Arbitral Award. His position was supported by the Commonwealth of Nations, the United States, and our friendly neighbours in CARICOM and the Organisation of American States, all of which have rejected Venezuela’s illicit threats and called on Caracas to respect international law as well as await the decision of the International Court of Justice.

Instead of adhering to the advice of the United States and our neighbours, the Maduro regime is currently making plans to hold a national referendum on the border controversy. Not to be left out was South America’s economic and military powerhouse, Brazil, through its Ambassador in Guyana has reiterated the urgent need for a peaceful solution to the border dispute through diplomacy and the International Court of Justice.

However, following the briefing by President Dr. Ali on the current developments on the border issue, the leader of the opposition Mr. Norton congratulated His Excellency and affirmed the Opposition’s firm support for Guyana’s long held position that the Arbitral Award of 1899 settled the border dispute, and that Essequibo belongs to Guyana.

Mr. Norton also reassured President Dr. Ali that despite their differences on governance and politics, everyone in the opposition is united in supporting the government on all measures aimed at protecting the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Mr. Norton also indicated to the President that the opposition fully supports the view that Guyana has the legitimate right to undertake all economic activities within its territory, opposes and condemns all forms of aggression by Venezuela, and welcomes the unwavering support of the regional and international communities to protect the country’s borders against the aggressive Maduro regime.

While His Excellency was gracious and cordial with the leader of the opposition and thanked him for his support, he was exceedingly blunt with the Venezuelan regime when he declared that the people and government of Guyana will not be intimidated by or be afraid of the hollow threats made by President Maduro. His excellency vowed to defend Guyana’s territory and sovereignty at all costs and by all necessary peaceful means.

In highlighting the new threats posed by the Maduro regime against Guyana, President Dr. Ali has done a brilliant job to amass immense support from our CARICOM and Latin American neighbours, the Commonwealth of nations, the United States and South America’s economic and military powerhouse Brazil, which warned the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela of the need for a peaceful resolution to the border dispute and that any attempt to use force against Guyana will threaten peace and stability in the region.

While other presidents have received support on the border dispute, President Dr. Ali is perhaps the first Head of State to receive unanimous support from several international and regional organizations and heads of state on the border issue. In the face of the ominous threats from Venezuela, His Excellency has displayed quintessential grace and strength.

It is said that an authentic leader is real, genuine, compassionate, visionary, and who is dedicated to a cause that is greater than self. And a hero refers to those who are brave, determined, inspiring and have a strong conviction. It is the belief of most Guyanese that President Ali is endowed with all the above qualities. Not to mention that he is a formidable leader who is standing up to Venezuela, and regardless of political affiliation we should support him in these challenging and difficult times.
Sincerely,
Asquith Rose