Caribbean News
Fearing the worst, Guyanese People moving out of Essequibo as Venezuela ignores December Accord
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#Guyana, March 26, 2024 – Just recently, on Thursday March 21st, 2024, the Venezuelan Parliament approved a law, crafted after the December referendum, declaring Venezuela the rightful owner of Essequibo.
Reports say up to 95 percent of voters supported the law for the creation of a federal state in Essequibo, and which has been submitted to the Supreme Court for the validation of its constitutionality.
This, Guyana expressed, is serious.
“It’s a holiday here but it’s like we are preparing for war with Venezuela,” said a resident of Guyana to our newsroom.
In fact, Guyana’s foreign ministry in a statement said the was “gravely concerned over the adoption of a law by the Venezuela National Assembly declaring the Essequibo region…to be a constituent part of Venezuela.”
They add the law is a blatant violation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
But, Venezuela has shown little regard for what’s right or wrong as they act against the International Court of Justice’s ruling on December 1st, 2023, that they should abstain from taking any action that could affect the status quo in Essequibo, which by law, is controlled and governed by Guyana.
Now, Guyana is calling on the international community to reject Venezuela’s “illegal” moves for Essequibo and “uphold the rule of law.”
Amid all this, tensions are growing between the two countries over the region and it appears not much is being revealed by authorities.
Magnetic Media has been informed by Guyanese nationals on the ground in Essequibo on what’s been happening and concern is increasing.
Reportedly, Venezuelans are now pouring into the Essequibo region as frightened Guyanese people move out, Magnetic Media is told.
Essequibo is home to 125,000 Guyanese.
With only an army and police of 6000 in total, the Guyanese express they are not ready to fight; they don’t even have a proper patrol boat.
“They will be blown to pieces,” they say.
But, despite this, it seems as if they are preparing for the worst outcome between Venezuela and Guyana according to a Magnetic Media’s source.
“A lot of Guyanese people started to move away from their home in the Essequibo region,” said a resident who also said information from government is limited and fear is high because the people of Guyana feel out-matched by Venezuela.
“Our army and police is about 6,000 in all. Our soldiers are not prepared to fight. They will be blown to pieces,” he said and when quizzed about the UK and US support, which had been seen at the end of 2023, there was, “They are saying that they are here training our soldiers to fly their F15 Fighter Jets. There are Chinese and Russian troops in Venezuela.”
Two Guyanese soldiers were arrested at the border about a week ago.
A cause for great concern as Venezuela has rigidly moved to attach oil-rich Essequibo to their map.
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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