Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#Guyana, December 10, 2023 – “We shall never be defeated, we will be successful, no enemy, no one, no one can take away this success from us.” These are the words of Irfaan Ali, the president of Guyana as he visited the Venezuela threatened Essequibo on December 6th.
The president visited Essequibo and delivered a powerful and empowering speech to the residents as their home is threatened by the claim over the land by Venezuela.
Ali, reassured the people of Essequibo that the region belongs to them and Guyana, and no one else.
“Essequibo belongs to Guyana, Essequibo belongs to every single Guyanese,” he stated.
“No one shall [rise] over us,” he also said.
Ali starts his address as a light shower of rain fell saying, “Good morning Essequibo, good morning Guyana, there is a gentle drizzle, as we say here in Guyana, and this gentle drizzle is a reminder that we are all together under the one banner of humanity, and we are all together in this country under the one banner of Guayna, [whether we are from Essequibo, Berbise or Demerara, we are together under that one powerful concept and that concept is that we are Guyanese.”
Ali continued to initiate a call and response, solidifying the identity of his people.
“Let me hear you say that, we are Guyanese,” he maintained, as the people repeated.
President Ali expressed to the people that Guyana is responding to the issue with Venezuela by leading by example and in “love.”
He added that Guyana is responding by banding together, “connecting hands” in peace and love which he says shows the world that Guyana believes in human connection, human interconnection, human dignity and a human barrier, which peace and love are primary and important.
Ali continued to point out that their efforts, convening in Essequibo and across the country, goes beyond a physical connection.
“It is a psychological connection,” he says, adding that it serves as a reminder that Guyana is one consistent link and that the country is strongest when the people work together, and can’t be penetrated easily.
This togetherness Ali speaks of is one he says can stand against any challenge, alluding to Venezuela’s clearly expressed determination to claim Essequibo.
He says that countries and regions around the world support Guyana against the fact that Essequibo belongs to Guyanese people and not Venezuelans.
Ali chanted that Guyana is not on sinking sand but on a solid foundation, hinting at their resilience and willingness to fight for Essequibo.
“We stand on a strong foundation of truth, honour and dignity, and that truth, honour and dignity is that Essequibo is Guyana, Essequibo belongs to Guyana,” he again emphasized.
Guyana’s borders are secure and will remain so, Ali said, as he saluted those who are willing to make sure that Essequibo stays out of the hands of Venezuela by strengthening its borders, buoying up the spirits of the Guyanese people.
He called on the Venezuelan government to act on the interest of its people, the future of Venezuela as well as in the interest of “dignity” and respect the order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
He further stated that Venezuela has a responsibility to every country on the globe and within the Caribbean region, later adding that Guyana and Venezuela will have to live together as neighbors as he neared the end of his address.
“No one shall [rise] over us,” he said.