LONG LIVE HUGO CHAVEZ!
Peeping Tom
Kaieteur News
March 11, 2007

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I consider Uncle Freddie's letter entitled, “How can Mr. Chavez lecture the world on American Imperialism when his government bullies its small neighbour?” as pure political opportunism.

After reading his letter, I was forced to make some enquiries as to whether Uncle Freddie was now working as a propaganda officer for the Americans because that letter stinks of narrow and fossilized thinking that is not normally associated with the professor's writings.

Firstly, the essential point of the letter is sensational. Hugo Chavez has never bullied Guyana . In fact, he has been the most receptive of all Venezuelan leaders when it comes to Guyana .

I recall the humiliation that Forbes Burnham faced in the early eighties when he went to Venezuela seeking to extend the Protocol of Port of Spain and attempting to revive the already cold Upper Mazaruni Hydro Electric Power Project. He came back humbled and disappointed. Apart from Chavez, other Venezuelan leaders while extending their hand of friendship have not been helpful to Guyana on the territorial claim.

It was under Hugo Chavez that this country made its most significant gesture to Guyana on the territorial claim. During a State visit to Guyana , Chavez indicated that his country would not object to development in the Essequibo area so long as these would benefit the people living there and help reduce poverty.

This I believe was by far the most important concession that has been made by any Venezuelan government to this country on the territorial question.

Surely, Uncle Freddie does not expect Chavez to simply renounce the claim. Or is that what he wants? To do so would be asking Hugo Chavez to commit political suicide in his country.

Already once the victim of a coup from the opposition in his country, imagine what would be the consequences for the populist Venezuelan President were he to simply renounce the claim.

While most Guyanese accept the invalidity of the Venezuelan claim to Guyana , that country has never had imperialist designs on our country. It has never sought to colonize us, or for that matter to use its greater economic strength to dominate and exploit us.

Secondly, Uncle Freddie asks that Guyana choose America over Venezuela . Prudent foreign policy-making however dictates that Guyana , a small underdeveloped, vulnerable country, should seek friendly relations with both the Americans, by far the most influential nation of the planet, as well as with Venezuela , our immediate neighbour to the West. Guyana should never be put in the position where it has to make a choice between the two countries.

But if we did have to make a choice, why should we choose America over Venezuela ? Venezuela does more for this country presently than the Americans. They certainly offer more bilateral assistance to this country than the Americans.

It is the Venezuelans that built the gymnasium; that came to our rescue when we bankrupted the Caribbean Multilateral Clearing Facility and could not pay for our fuel supplies; that explored a barter deal with this country in the eighties; it was the Venezuelans that offered significant assistance to the housing sector under the PPP government, that is providing massive support to survey our rivers to improve the drainage out to the Atlantic and who under PetroCaribe will supply half of our fuel needs on credit.

Guyana has had very good relations with that country. Guyana in fact recently supported that country's failed bid for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council. This newspaper last month reported that the Venezuelans are not opposed to Guyana exploring for oil in the Essequibo .

Thirdly, I can accept the disappointment of Uncle Freddie in Chavez not attending the Rio Summit. Chavez however did not slight our country by not turning up for the summit. Many other leaders of the region did not turn up. Venezuela was represented at the Summit . Many Guyanese were looking forward to Chavez's arrival and to hearing him letting off steam against the Americans.

The Peeper for one would have loved to hear his response to the approach adumbrated by Jagdeo to address the social problems of the region. We are yet to learn why he did not come but who knows, had he come he may have embarrassed our President by pointing out Jagdeo's misguided approach to reversing structural inequalities within Latin America .

Who knows, given the trite and weak-kneed recommendations coming out of the Summit , by staying away Hugo Chavez may have done a favour to the Guyanese leader.