Last Wednesday night, shots rang out from the Venezuelan side of the Cuyuni River in three separate attacks on GDF troops who were conducting riverine patrols. The Cuyuni, of course, forms our border with Venezuela, but we know that Mad Maduro doesn’t see it that way, does he?? No siree Bob!! He insists that all of Essequibo is Venezuela’s, and so, as far as whoever were shooting at our men, they were just trying to get rid of interlopers into their territory!!
Now, while no one was hurt, we should remember that just a while back, in February, it was quite different, as our soldiers returned fire and injured several men who were said to be members of the Sindicato gangs that infest that area. We had to rush our injured soldiers to Georgetown. So, what’s really going on?? Last week, there was also a military vessel spotted on the Amakura border river, chock full with soldiers – and while it’s their right to use the rivers we share, the military show of force is significant.
May 25th is the day elections for the Venezuelan Legislature and governors gonna be held – and we’re getting a preview of what’s in store for us in the near term. Even though there’s no polling stations or anything in Essequibo, and nobody will be voting, using the same arbitrariness that’s used within Venezuela as Mad Maduro routinely rigs elections, he’s gonna be sending eight “representatives” to their National Assembly – and a Governor to the city of Tumeremo!! Whether anyone likes it or not – including the ICJ that’s forbidden the move! – this will just be another step in Mad Maduro’s inexorable incremental moves to assert “sovereignty” over our Essequibo!!
Now, while we will be railing that those representatives haven’t been voted in by “real” Venezuelans, just consider that control of the ENTIRE Venezuelan National Assembly has been assumed without real Venezuelans voting them in. Mad Maduro knows the elections were rigged; the world knows the elections were rigged – but the world keeps on turning, doesn’t it?? In his first presidency, Trump tried to have the fella who actually won the elections be the REAL president – and even had him be recognized by over FIFTY countries!! But it all amounted to less than a bucket of warm spit!! Maduro had the support of the military, who has his back – he’s rewarded then with control over the economy!!
So, we can expect, next year, when the ICJ announces its decision on the 1899 Arbitral Boundary in our favour, Essequibo’s “representatives and governor” will reject it!! And while your Eyewitness and you will know it’s a crock, the rest of the world won’t be reading no small print!!
…our buttons
Your Eyewitness saw China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi meeting our Foreign Minister Hugh Todd in Beijing last Monday. The Chinese uttered the usual platitudes about us being the FIRST country in the British Caribbean to recognize them. Fat lot of good THAT’s done for us!! While our Todd met his counterpart – less than a week ago, Mad Maduro met with President Xi – and his entire Cabinet!! Where their HIGHEST diplomatic relations of “all weather friends” was emphasized!!
The reason for Todd’s audience came out soon enough – to push China’s Belt and Road Initiative strategy, which seeks to influence other countries through loans for infrastructural “development” and snapping up energy and mineral resources. CNOOC already owns 25% of the Stabroek Block – yet, Exxon gets all the flack on the inequitable terms – as the former smirks all the way to the (Chinese) bank!!
And not so incidentally, how many of the thousands of Chinese workers on the infrastructural projects, like the DHB, gonna be returning to China?? New colonists??
…the genocide button
Right now, dear reader, Israeli forces continue their bombardment of Gaza – where the Palestinians have been herded into the rubble that was one their homes – to die slowly by starvation or immediately from explosions.
