Guyana must balance its interests in relations with Cuba and United States- WPA

Last Updated on Monday, 17 March 2025, 21:59 by Writer

The historically left-leaning Working People’s Alliance (WPA) on Monday said there was diplomatic space for Guyana to find the balance between regional solidarity with Cuba against the United States (US) and securing American support to deal with Venezuela’s increasing aggression over the Essequibo region.

While Guyana needs to retain the support of the US and other Western allies should Venezuela resort to armed conflict, that party also believed that Guyana could strategically engage Cuba to persuade Venezuela, both staunch allies, to back off from militarily pursuing its claim to the 160,000 square kilometre Essequibo. WPA Co-Leader Tacuma Ogunseye said Cuba should be engaged for the tremendous influence it has on Venezuela and its allies. “To the extent that we keep it into the area of diplomacy, I think Cuba could play a very important role in advocating on the side of Guyana and exerting the tremendous influence that they may have on Caracas and the Russians and probably even the Chinese to make sure that sense prevails in Caracas so, for me, and our thinking, it’s not one or the other. We have to keep on board both sides of the divide,” he said.

The US has warned Venezuela of “consequences” if there is a repeat of the March 1 incursion of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone and communicating with ExxonMobil-contracted vessels that are producing and exploring for crude in the Stabroek Block. Unlike several left-leaning Caribbean governments, the former Marxist-Leninist PPP has not rebuffed the US’ threat to revoke visas of government officials and their immediate families over their use of Cuban health workers because they were being allegedly victims of forced labour.

Guyana says it has assured the US that this country was abiding by local and international labour laws, but has asked the US to raise any specific issue or concern that it has.

WPA Co-Leader, Dr David Hinds said the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration should work closely with the political opposition and non-governmental organisations in developing its national negotiating position. “We say to the government: we recognise the challenges you face. These are not new challenges and the way you meet those challenges is that you rally national public opinion behind you,” he said.

He said the aim should be to ensure Guyana and the US remain firm allies without abandoning Cuba which has provided “very valuable support” to Guyana’s healthcare system with workers, and the training of Guyanese doctors. “The optimum outcome on this matter is for us to keep and maintain the support of the United States and other allies without throwing Cuba under the bus,” he said. He said if Cuban healthcare workers were withdrawn from Guyana, the healthcare system would be under stress. “We have the intellectual capacity to balance the two imperatives and to make the case before the United States,” he added.