-residents thank President Ali, VP Jagdeo for bringing peace

AMIDST the prevailing border controversy between Venezuela and Guyana, residents from the Cinderella County of Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon Supenaam), have expressed their appreciation to President Dr Irfaan Ali and Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo for their unwavering devotion and selflessness, deeming them instrumental in making the people feel safer and more festive during the holiday season.

Anjanie Anrood, a senior sales representative of Best Bargain Hardware in Abram Zuil, revealed to the Sunday Chronicle that the majority of Essequibians were pleased with Dr Jagdeo and President Ali’s visit to the region and, more importantly, at his recent meeting with Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela in St. Vincent. According to her, prior to these events, the mood along the Essequibo Coast was one of uneasiness, tension, and uncertainty.

“As long as I can remember, Essequibo and the Essequibo Coast are where people come when they wanted to relax in peace and harmony. It is known for its quiet country life and way of life, and it is a region that everyone escapes to when they do not want to deal with the hassle of Georgetown or life. So, this type of unnecessary attention and uneasy feeling that was brought on to us by Venezuelans wasn’t sitting well with us. Customers weren’t buying; the boss of my company wasn’t stocking up on products; everything was just at a standstill,” Anrood explained.

She continued, “I would like to thank Vice President Jagdeo, our President Dr. Ali, and their government for leading the way in making sure that we were at ease. Hearing from them that we would be okay and seeing that they are standing with us is very reassuring to all Guyanese, especially the people from my region and the regions that are directly affected. It is because of them that we can actually enjoy Christmas with our families and friends in a more peaceful manner. We hope that this can continue going forward into the new year, and we can get back to living in a more free and comfortable way, the way we were always accustomed to.”

Also speaking with the Sunday Chronicle, Vasante (only name given), who works at a financial institution in Anna Regina, explained that she was extremely concerned and scared after customers were withdrawing their money with the intention of moving to Georgetown. However, she said that after the Vice President’s visit to the Coast and President Ali’s meeting with Maduro in St. Vincent, people started to feel a sense of calmness.

“For a moment, it was becoming very tense and anxious. Many of our customers came into the institution panicking and made significant withdrawals with the intent of moving and living in other parts of Guyana. It was an uneasy feeling, one that added a lot of stress and discomfort to people’s lives. I am happy to say that after the VP’s visit to Essequibo and President Ali meeting in St. Vincent with the Venezuelan President, the calmness and comfortable feeling returned to us.”

She further stated that now people are more at ease, and it’s “beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” Businesses are booming, and people and children are enjoying their shopping in the markets and stores. Vasante added, “We haven’t had the large quantity of withdrawals since, and we are thankful for that and for our president and his government’s role in keeping our lives safer. We are thankful to them, and on behalf of the people of Essequibo, we would also like to thank all Guyanese for standing in unity and fighting together to ensure that we live in a fearless and loving country. ”

Additionally, Winston Marks of Zorg village explained that he and his family were “very concerned” about the tension that was in the atmosphere.

According to him, “It wasn’t a nice feeling; everyone was done, the children were scared, and we had to let them know that the government would take care of this, and I like that they did. I want to thank President Ali and the VP for giving us courage through their actions and bravery. I know how that made me feel, and I know that my fellow Essequibians felt the same way too.
“Listen, it is not easy to know that now we are developing as a country and people from somewhere else want to play like they own we; that cannot work, and by the grace of God and good leaders, we wouldn’t have to face this ever again in this country.”

Marks also added that while they are celebrating with their families, they are thinking of the families of the brave soldiers who lost their lives to make sure that they were safe.
“To the families of our heroes, we want you to know that we are all thinking of you and your families, and we are sending love and prayers to you all, especially during these times,” he concluded.