War around Guyana? - Venezuela’s Aggression by Peter Ramsaroop of Vision Guyana
September 23, 2008
INTRODUCTION:
Many are aware that I am very pro-west in my beliefs as most Guyanese are, as evident by their interest in moving to the United States and Canada. I believe that our President, who is Russian trained, is not pro-west. President Chavez this last Thursday kicked the US Ambassador out of his country as the Russians came in with their bombers and naval ships while the US is reactivating their 4th Fleet for the Caribbean region.
This followed the shocking news that Venezuela has invited the Russians to conduct an exercise in the region. Russian Naval ships and long range bombers have already arrived. It is evident that President Chavez is a dictator and has seized most of the private sector oil and cement businesses. The recent conflict between Russia and Georgia has raised concerns around the world. President George W. Bush on Monday froze a lucrative civilian nuclear pact with Russia, the first big penalty imposed on Moscow after its war with Georgia.
Mr. Chavez said last weekend that four warships with as many as 1,000 sailors from Russia’s Pacific Fleet will take part in a training exercise off Venezuela’s coast. Salvatore Cammarata Bastidas, Venezuela’s chief of naval intelligence, said the exercises were aimed at strengthening military ties. Venezuela has gone out of its way to strengthen relations with Russia. In addition to welcoming Russian investment, Mr. Chavez has emerged as a major buyer of Russian arms. Guyana is a country threatened by Venezuela to invade at anytime if we develop the two-thirds of the country they illegally claim. Chavez, who constantly warns the U.S. may someday invade Venezuela, already has begun training neighbourhood-based civilian militias. Government opponents say he is trying to create the means to suppress dissent and defend his presidency at all costs.
WHY IS ALL OF THIS IMPORTANT TO GUYANA?
I bring this up because I strongly believe Venezuela is a deterrent to major private investors wanting to invest in the Essequibo, which is rich in natural resources such as oil, because of the fear of a Venezuelan invasion. We lack the bold leadership and foreign policy necessary to deal with such aggression by our neighbour in holding our country hostage. The AFC is the only parliamentary party to call for Venezuela to take off their claim on Guyana before any roads can join the two countries. The PNC failed while they were in power to open the region, but concentrated well on defending our borders. We have repeatedly called for this policy to change and for Guyana to take up the mantle and open the Essequibo to large oil companies.
Reports by leading regional geologists confirmed that the Essequibo basin may be rich with oil given its strategic location to Venezuela.
ARMS BUILD UP – SHOULD CONCERN US:
Sir Ronald Sanders in a recent column “Venezuelan military build-up cause for anxiety” warned about the arms build up in Venezuela.
He wrote that “Chavez has recently purchased $4 billion worth of military equipment from Russia. These include: 24 Sukhoi combat aircraft with missiles, Main battle tanks, transport aircraft, air defence systems, and Kalashnikov (AK) automatic assault rifles.
This latest purchase follows a 2005-2006 agreement with Russia to buy over 50 combat helicopters, 12 Tor-M1state-of-the-art defence anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missile systems, and 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles.
Having purchased all this heavy-duty weaponry, Chavez boasted that his air force could sink the US Fourth Fleet, which was recently deployed in the Caribbean, reportedly on drug-interdiction duty.
He added that the Sukhoi aircraft has a considerably longer range than the US Lockheed/Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons.
And he went on: “Any gringo ship that sails into brown waters (Venezuelan waters) will itself turn brown and go to the bottom, because they’ll not get through”.
AMERICAN BASE IN GUYANA?
As a former US Military veteran with service in the Persian Gulf War to liberate Kuwait from Iraq, I know what it is like to have a country invaded by another. We cannot wait for Chavez in his arms build-up to continue to threaten the sovereignty of our nation. By virtue of Guyana’s strategic geographic location, and to ensure future free market economy successes, it is incumbent on our elected Government leaders, to actively pursue a closer cooperation, with the USA, and perhaps, offer to host an American Base in Guyana. Capitalism with a social conscience, with recognition of Guyana’s sovereignty, coupled with Guyanese entrepreneurs and citizens, can make Guyana, the Singapore or Dubai, of the Caribbean and South America. Guyana is blessed with numerous resources, including very important water and soon oil. Socialism, dictatorship or communism is not in Guyana’s long-term interests; we have tried all three and are still in one and it is not working.
CONCLUSION:
Chavez called the deployment part of a move toward a “pluri-polar world” — a reference to moving away from U.S. dominance. “The Yankee hegemony is finished,” Chavez said in a televised speech.
This anti-west approach is a breeding ground for war and terrorism. Guyana needs to step out and reclaim its sovereignty and not be bounded by this ridiculous claim from Venezuela. We need the West in order to further our development and to stop the migration of all our skilled workers to their countries. Why not try to get them to help us develop?
We need to take a stand against our neighbour for bringing Russia, which is bent on pushing back communism and dictatorship around the world and returning to the stage with its power and international relations aura which it lost in the early 90s. Our hope does not lay in the reliance on status quo leaders who curtsy to the whims of themselves. We need leaders who have the internal fortitude to turn away from the temptations of power. We need leaders who seek national interests over personal interests. We need bold leaders who govern with compassion and wisdom. Guyana needs bold Governmental leaders to act without fear of favour, before it is too late.
Send responses to peter.ramsaroop@gmail.com www.visionguyana.com
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13 Responses to “War around Guyana? - Venezuela’s Aggression by Peter Ramsaroop of Vision Guyana”
Got something to say?
I know what type of propaganda you are trying to put out,those who don’t know their politics would believe you,come better next time.If you continue like that you would forever be a loner crying in the wilderness and never get into political power.
RDMAN, can you please elaborate on your explanation as to the propaganda you are refering to?
I am not sure what propaganda RDMAN is referring too. Russia announced that they will help Chavez with Nuclear Technology. Guyana is rated as the most corrupt country, who is Jagdeo tying himself too
Obviously, Peter Ramsaroop is pro-west, a veteran of the first Iraqi invasion and a capitalist. As we know that capitalism is all about exploitation and oppression. History proves this.
Can you imagine this Ramsaroop, a capitalist with,” a social conscience.” What a lot of hot air. Since when do capitalist have a conscience?
Ramsaroop as president of Guyana? Fowlcock will get teeth before he becomes president of Guyana.
While I am also concerened with the border dispute with Venezuela, it was the US who instigated their Venezuelan puppet presidents to raise the issue and moved against Ankoko in the 60’s.
Venezuela has the right to rule themselves and not be puppets of the US. Whether Chavez is crazy or not, he has a right as president of Venezuela to have military exercise with Russia. The US does it all the time with Russia’s neighbors, most recently with the Ukraine.
The leaders of South America are awake and does not want to bring back the old days when America controlled them. They want to be independent. Let the people in their respective S.A countries vote in free and fair elections and elect their leaders, without inteference from America or any external forces.
The Guyanese people should be afraid of Ramsroop more than Chavez.
His type is what have Guyana in the predicament we are in today. Venezuela did not trample on Guyana’s democracy, it was the US, Britain and Burnham {PNC} who led us down this road.
Being a former member of the US armed service is nothing special. It just shows how Ramsaroop was easily brainwashed while in their service. He believes that the US is the savior for Guyana. They are not.
Guyana must develop its own identity. We have enough intelligent Guyanese to do this., if we can just come together.
And this Ramsaroop wants to lead Guyana.
Amazing how many of those same Guyanese lives in US, UK, and Canada. They are all enjoying Captialism. Ask any Guyanese if they want a visa and you would have a mad rush to capitalism. I wonder Mohan are you in Guyana. GTBoy
Gt guy,
I live in the US. My parents brought me to the US when I was a teenager. However, I have never stopped participating in struggles that protest the evils of the US.
It doesn’t mean because I live in the US, I can’t be critical and believe me I am not enjoying “Capitalism,” because I am not a capitalist. I am activist for peace, justice, an end to all forms of discrimination, for immigrant rights etc. and I do it in the BELLY OF THE BEAST{America}. I am not one of those Guyanese who live in America and exploit and rip off other Guyanese or any other group. My goal is not to own houses and rent the basement to my mother and father.
The Guyanese who does those things are the ones enjoying Capitalism. I fight against those things.
If you don’t believe me, you could ask other Guyanese you know in New York about my activities.
I walk the walk and talk the talk
Chuck,
Well said! Those who know who you are know who you are.
Thanks very much Chuck,that was well said,i like how you educated them,it shows how little they read and how little they research,it shows how some people can fall for propaganda,what Ramsaroop did he mixed some facts with propaganda and sell it to them and they quickly bought it.I was going to reply but you said it nicely.
If you all feel that way, why not come to Guyana and live like the others. Feel the oppression by the PPP govenment, the theifing as the Auditor General Report showed for years, funny, you all sit there and have the answers while enjoying your nice cars. I am in guyana, poor and want a champion to work for us and the raping that going on our asses by the Govenment. Funny you all cant come back and live here
GTGuy,
I think you have a gross misconception on what the working class American endures. I myself am one of them. I pay taxes for benefits i cannot even enjoy. I work at least 17 hrs per day. Yes, i sacrifice my family many times to make ends meet and many of us do that here; it is quite normal. In guyana, you may feel that in the US, we are living on beds of roses, toasting on the best wine..You have been led in the dark quite possibly by the tales told to you by your fellow cohorts whose purpose was to deceive you intentionally. Please take the opportunity to follow the current economic affairs in the US right now and access your analysis. You may recant your previous statement after a burst of American reality.
Andrew, at least you have the opportunity to work and support your family. I work as hard as you probably and make 40,000 a month. My electric bill is 8,000, transportation is very high, i beg my family in New York for money, we buy rice and eat it all week with a few greens from the market. We want opportunity here, not thiefing by government.
I hear you GTGuy… But you just cannot make blanket statements. How are you so sure i am not supporting my family on thousands in credit card bills. You do not know my financial situation. Only this year, jan, Feb and March, I was unemployeed for 3 months. How do you afford to support a computer with internet costing 50 UsD per month…that alone is 10,000 GYD. Come on now! Don’t make your situation a life or death one. Has Your family been supportive of you. If you have land..grow some food in a kitchen garden..You keep blaming one party …what about the people? Do the people have any responsibility tied to them? You seem to see the world in black and white. There are shades of gray you know.
GtGuy,
The working class in every country of the world struggle to survive everyday. Whether we work in Guyana or America, the home of capitalism. Our conditions may vary, but we are all fighting for improved wages, better and affordable health care, better education, an end to racism and all forms of discrimination, affordable and low income housing etc.
You seem to be under the impression that the US is paved with gold. Many immigrants have to work two or sometimes three jobs to make ends meet. I hope you are not listening to Peter Ramsaroop.
You mentioned thiefing by the government. Have you been reading about the economic crisis in the US. This is caused by greed and exploitation by the rich in the US, while the government, who is supposed to regulate, sit by and let it all happen.
Look at all the corruption in US politics. If every politician at all levels of government in America are investigated, I can assure you that 98% will have to leave office, starting with the president.
I AM NOT SAYING THAT CORRUPTION IS ACCEPTABLE IN ANY GOVERNMENT. It should be eradicated and the people should enjoy the benefits of their taxes. This also goes for Guyana. People have the right to vote and remove a corrupt government. It happened in 1992. If that’s the case now, the people will speak in 2011. Since 1992, there is free and fair elections in Guyana.