Jagdeo never agreed to cede any part of Guyana’s territory – PPP

Guyana/Venezuela border controversy

…botches AFC plot to undermine national solidarity

…party reiterates support for Govt’s efforts to safeguard territorial sovereignty

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Friday staunchly defended its General Secretary as it denied assertions by the Alliance For Change (AFC) that while serving as President, Bharrat Jagdeo seriously considered ceding part of Guyana’s territory to Venezuela as a means of easing the pressure brought by the Spanish speaking country on his Government at that time.
The AFC made the allegations in its Sunday column carried in a section of the press under the headline “How dare you, Mr Jagdeo? Watch and Learn.”
But the PPP in a strongly worded statement fired back, stating that at a time when a sense of solidarity is being promoted among Guyanese, relative to the

Guyana/Venezuela border controversy, it noted with disgust the manoeuvrings of the AFC on the matter, for the sake of political gain.
The party said the published column blatantly misrepresented comments made by Jagdeo in October 2015.
“The AFC has unashamedly peddled yet another lie. The AFC, in its column, claims that Jagdeo “had seriously considered surrendering parts of Guyana’s land and sea space to Venezuela ‘just to ease the pressure’ on his Government and appease the land-hungry Venezuelans.”  The facts show that no such comment was ever made.  This lie about a concession of Guyana’s territory being offered to Venezuela has been bandied about since late 2015, without consideration of one quintessential fact – no such decision or move was made,” the PPP statement read.
It said sternly that the former President in October 2015 made it clear that in addressing the border controversy, several internal discussions were held.
“He stated that, coming out from an internal technical analysis, several options were reviewed.  When pressed by the media corps on the nature of these discussions, Dr Jagdeo said: “There was one view, let me say, one view, that you could probably, on the maritime area, give Venezuela a channel out to the sea. So you could have made a concession in the maritime area, but make sure you do not concede any territory that is land based, because the maritime boundaries are still yet to be determined… that was one view.” However, he also stressed that at no time was a decision made regarding the surrender of Guyana’s land or sea space. There was no “serious consideration” – as the AFC claims – of what was a single view,” the PPP continued.
The PPP said Jagdeo has publicly indicated that while he may not agree with some of the moves made by the coalition Government in dealing with the border controversy, he has not expounded on any of these in the interest of ensuring that national solidarity on this matter is not undermined.
The party reiterated its support of the coalition Government’s efforts to safeguard Guyana’s territorial sovereignty.
“We have a national position on this matter and that will not change. Given the AFC’s position, one now has to question if it is the mouthpiece of the Government on this issue and if this is the coalition Government’s approach to this matter – one that undermines national solidarity,” the PPP added.