The world is watching, Maduro must do the right thing

Dear Editor,
Despite the ongoing border controversy, I support the Government’s decision to have a face-to-face discussion with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro tomorrow in Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, on the need for peace and respect for international law.
I know that the meeting and dialogue, according to President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, will not see any concessions being made with respect to Guyana’s case, which is rightfully and justly before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
It is apt to know that the President will hold fast to the position that the Essequibo belongs to Guyana. He will hold out at the meeting tomorrow that Guyana is standing on the shoulders of the finalised Arbitral Award of 1899, which is in full effect. So, I am hopeful that the meeting takes in a cordial setting, with good sense prevailing between the two nations; because Guyana will not step away from the ICJ, nor is it prepared to give up an inch of territory.
Also, it is hoped that the meeting offers President Ali the opportunity to tell Maduro to his face that he breached the recent ICJ ruling. Maduro must also be told that his continued threats to annex Guyana’s territory have caught the attention of the Government and the world respectfully.
He must be made to understand, if he does not as yet, that the world will never sit idly by while his political and administrative plan to annex Guyana is being played out. Political decency and respect for international law demand that Maduro and his government in Caracas tone down and scale back their troops on our borders.
President Ali must also tell Maduro that the two neighbours can peacefully co-exist, and the other concerns: such as illegal mining, criminal activity and migration, can be amicably dealt with.
He has to remain open-minded and listen to the points Maduro will no doubt be making at the meeting, where officials from CARICOM and Brazil are tentatively slated to be present.
President Ali must be careful and decisive, using his tone and training in diplomacy to make his point that Guyana will uphold, as it has been doing, international law.
President Ali must also know that the entire country and most of the world are behind him. Standing up to a man like Maduro is never going to be easy, but if one does not stand one’s ground based on truth, freedom, and facts, then one will fall for anything, even a claim as untruthful and spurious as Venezuela’s.
The late former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said, “Extremism can flourish only in an environment where basic governmental social responsibility for the welfare of the people is neglected. Political dictatorship and social hopelessness create the desperation that fuels… extremism”.
Finally, I hope someone tells Maduro — aside from the meeting — that, on his part, this plot that the Essequibo is Venezuela’s territory is reeking of extremism, imperialism, and political dictatorship clothed as democracy and the will of the Venezuelan people. It is not the will of those people; they only want to be free of the bondage of food shortages, inflation, and tyranny of political rule; but they are forced to be patriotic because of the promise of better days ahead if they can get the Essequibo and its spoils.
The world is watching, Maduro must do the right thing. After this meeting, Guyana should know where it stands.

Yours truly,
Michael Younge