– House of Lords member says

CALLING for Venezuela to face the necessary sanctions for going against the ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), John Anderson, a member of the House of Lords, echoed his support for Guyana.

“Regrettably, I too turn our minds to Guyana, a fellow member of the Commonwealth, which is facing extreme pressure from a possible land grab by Venezuela, in defiance of a UN court decision,” he said.

Furthermore, Anderson underscored that because of these threats being put forth by the Bolivarian Republic, it is imperative that the international community stands firmly against Maduro, saying that he will immediately proceed to grant operating licences for the exploration and exploitation of oil, gas, and mines in Guyana’s Essequibo region.

Turning the spotlight on Venezuela’s sham referendum, he said that these actions that are being planned by the Maduro-led administration will result in consequences for its people.
Anderson stated: “Venezuela can assuredly say goodbye to regional legitimacy if it follows through on armed and unprovoked aggression. Some analysts suggest this is a possible co-ordinated geopolitical action to drive down oil prices and receive domestic support for a battered autocracy.”

He then went on to call for immediate sanctions to be applied to Maduro and the lead general engineering this.

Anderson said that the UK should coordinate with Mercosur and the Organisation of American States (OAS) and with other regional policy mechanisms to lower tensions.
“However, as a fallback, I believe Brazil could step in, not least because it has economic interests in Guyana or, if there be reluctance by President ‘Lula,’ Chile’s President Boric could be an option to support, alongside Uruguayan and Paraguayan elements,” he also said.

Anderson then emphasised that even US Secretary of State Blinken stands with the Guyanese President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and reaffirmed their unwavering support for Guyana’s sovereignty.
On December 5, Maduro announced a slew of actions to be taken by his government to implement the result of the sham December 3 referendum, despite the judgement handed down by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

As he openly defied the ICJ’s ruling, he announced seven actions that they plan to take on the Essequibo region, including a new map of Venezuela that includes Guyana’s Essequibo region for distribution in schools, high schools, and universities of the country.

In response, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Ali, reported Maduro’s latest actions to the United Nations (UN) Security Council and the ICJ.

“We will not allow our territory to be violated nor the development of our country to be stymied by this desperate threat,” the Head-of-State affirmed.

He further said: “We urge President Maduro to rethink these missteps, and to act and behave in accordance with the international law. All our actions and anything we do in Guyana are aimed at ensuring this region remains a region of peace. Our only ambition is for this region to remain a zone of peace; we ask for nothing more or nothing less.”