…in St Vincent
When Columbus baptised the island of Hairouna as “St Vincent” back in the day, maybe he knew why the patron saint of Portuguese wine-makers would be appropriate for the tourists who flock to its beaches today. The vino helps to drive away worries and cares, no?? Now, the island’s PM, Ralph Gonzalves, comes off as a fella who takes his wine seriously – maybe because he’s of Portuguese ancestry?? But your Eyewitness doesn’t think much – if any – vino flowed during yesterday’s meeting between Pres Ali and Mad Maduro.
After all, the meeting was about the war Mad Maduro has unleashed on our country, and while your Eyewitness has been stressing the need for communication even during wartime, that communication shouldn’t be distorted by spirits!! Lives hang on the words that’ll flow!! You, dear reader, will know much more about what actually went down in St Vincent than yours truly right now: the meeting hasn’t even begun as he pecks away on this piece.
Your Eyewitness had noted that after Brazil’s Lula had dropped out and sent an emissary in his place, Mia Mottley had stepped up to the crease. Now she’ll be joined by a couple of UN Reps, and other Caricom Leaders, like Keith Rowley etc. But your Eyewitness wonders why a rep from Britain also didn’t show up. Weren’t they made a permanent part of the “stakeholders” as per the Geneva Agreement – which both Guyana and Venezuela agree applies to the controversy?? Or are they afraid they might raise Mad Maduro’s ire because of his “imperialist” rants?? The irony, of course, is that Mad Maduro’s now seeking to degut the independence Britain gave us, and impose a new imperialism!!
But your Eyewitness – who’s been scouring the newsfeeds to get an inkling of what’s going on — was told that Mad Maduro’s security detail’s plane had “ESSEQUIBO” emblazoned across its fuselage. Now, if that ain’t provocation, what is? He was also pretty disturbed by a report by the St Vincent Times after the two presidents landed: “On Maduro’s arrival, Gonsalves engaged in a conversation with him, and allowed the Venezuelan President to have a brief news conference on the tarmac for a duration of over 4 minutes.
“Upon Ali’s arrival, he was not shown the same courtesy, as Gonsalves swiftly escorted him to the conference room.” All of these aren’t good portents for any breakthrough from Mad Maduro’s bellicosity!
Your Eyewitness also noticed that Mad Maduro walked along with his fireball VP, Delcy Rodrigues – the same one who pretty much gave the World Court the finger when she told them she doesn’t recognize the jurisdiction THEY agreed they had over the controversy!!
Shouldn’t Ali have walked with his VP Jagdeo, who also isn’t shy with gestures?
…in Dubai
What with the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza by Israelis; – it ain’t war when one side has such an advantage! – the ongoing war in Ukraine; and Mad Maduro’s defiance of the entire rule-based world order to unilaterally annex our Essequibo, your Eyewitness should be forgiven for not following with COP28 in Dubai – as he ought’ve been doing. After all – and your Eyewitness accepts the science – if we don’t do something about global warming during the hottest year on record, when will we??
Well, looks like there has been progress with a unanimous agreement: for the first time ever, over 200 countries agreed on the need to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems” – and this be done “in a just, orderly and equitable manner”. While some see this as the rich countries being willing to move away from coal, oil and gas quicker, your Eyewitness remains a sceptic!
No country is compelled to take action, and no timescale is specified!! So, what’s left?? Good faith?? Ha!!
…end game
While Mad Maduro’s single minded about taking over Essequibo – with Putin and Russia arming him to the teeth with billions in advanced weapons – Caricom keeps talking about a “zone of peace”!! This is Mad Maduro’s language to keep the US out!!
