-AG urges; says Maduro is using it to spread falsehoods
ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has expressed concern that the negative commentary about the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy, particularly on social media, is being used by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro to advance a false narrative.
His comments came in response to critical commentaries following the meeting between Presidents Dr. Irfaan Ali and Maduro last Thursday at the Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The meeting was facilitated by the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, and was observed by Brazil, CARICOM, and a UN Under-Secretary-General.
This historic meeting culminated in what is now known as the “Argyle Declaration,” an 11-point agreement which addresses matters consequential to the border controversy, including the fact that Guyana holds firmly to its position that the substantive case is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Nandlall explained that following the meeting, he made a post on his official Facebook page where he highlighted the potential repercussions of irresponsible public statements on Guyana’s position in the territorial dispute.
In an interview on Tuesday, Nandlall clarified his intent, stating, “I never attempted to prohibit anyone or to suggest that anyone must refrain from exercising the right to free expression, but to just alert those who choose to do so to appreciate that there is a consequence.”
Nandlall pointed out that his primary aim was to make individuals aware of how their public expressions could be used against Guyana’s interests in the ongoing border discussions.
He underscored the importance of responsible discourse, particularly on matters of national importance, such as territorial sovereignty.
The AG explained that his response was to a prominent commentator in the legal fraternity who had speculated on the establishment of foreign military bases in Guyana.
“And he [the commentator on social media] surmised and speculated that that will be the basis of a failure of the impending talks scheduled to take place in St. Vincent, between President Irfaan Ali and President Maduro. I responded by first emphasising that Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo is nowhere on the public record as asserting that there will be any military base established in Guyana for any country.
“However, the Vice President has assured that Guyana will do all that is lawfully necessary to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty. I posited that that is not only the Vice President’s view, but that is the view of the Government of Guyana, and I dare say the entire population,” Nandlall said.
Nandlall pointed out that such speculative conclusions could be misinterpreted and used against Guyana in diplomatic negotiations.
“I cautioned against persons pontificating publicly in this reckless and irresponsible manner on matters of national importance, more particularly at this crucial juncture of Guyana’s history, where its territorial sovereignty is at stake,” Nandlall stated.
The United States had denied that it has plans to set up a military base in Guyana. Guyana’s government has made no request to establish such a base here.
Venezuela, with no evidence, has been using weaponising commentaries made on social media by persons to propagate a distorted narrative on the border controversy.
Addressing the recent talks with Venezuela, Nandlall detailed during the meeting in St Vincent, President Maduro’s use of public statements critical of ExxonMobil’s operations and other activities in Guyana.
The Venezuelan President reportedly compiled a dossier of these statements, attempting to leverage them in support of his narrative.
“His [President Maduro] point that he was making, was that Exxon’s operations here, in which he claimed was in the disputed territory, was not even supported by Guyanese and that his criticism of the grant of the licence to operators within that sector, in what he’s describing as the disputed territory, was not only his criticisms but Guyanese by and large were expressing similar views. And he also cited other operations within the Essequibo area for which he collected information that is critical of those operations,” the AG said.
Nandlall clarified that he, nor the government did not cause this to happen, but rather it was the comments made by persons. Those comments are now being used by Venezuela against Guyana, he said.
He added that he did not express support for Maduro’s stance and maintained that his intention was to highlight the consequences of public criticism.
He referred to the situation as a “spasm of guilt” among those who had made public criticisms, leading to their apprehension about contributing to Venezuela’s cause.
“The reality is, they do not help Guyana’s cause. These commentators obviously felt a spasm of guilt because they didn’t, for one moment, want the population to perceive them as contributing to Venezuela’s cause.
“All I was doing was to inform those who are exercising this freedom to be aware of what use is made of their expressions and to see if you wish to travel that road, you must understand and appreciate that there is this real consequence.
“That is to say, the enemy is collating and compiling what you say and is throwing it in our faces. Whatever weight is attached to them, I don’t know. They may not carry any weight at all, but what I do know is that they do not in any form or fashion help Guyana’s cause,” Nandlall said.
Nandlall defended his position, stating, “I only brought the message. I didn’t contribute to the state of affairs, they did.
