Guyanese think-tank to generate proposals on tackling Venezuela’s claim to Essequibo

Last Updated on Sunday, 23 March 2025, 13:08 by Writer

The Guyanese think-tank, Centre for International and Border Studies (CIBS) would this Friday discuss several options and canvassing ideas on how Guyana could further strengthen its response to Venezuela’s increasing aggression in pressing its claim to Guyana’s Essequibo Region.

Direct0r of CIBS, International Relations Professor, Mark Kirton says the “options and recommendations” of the panel discussion would be presented to the government in the hope of influencing Guyana’s policy on confronting Venezuela. “We plan to do that with all stakeholders to get the feedback from the audiences, to distill those recommendations and to present formally, especially to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, some of the views which would be advanced to get their buy-in perhaps or get their consideration for the recommendations,” he told Demerara Waves Online News.

Under the chairmanship of Dr Kirton, the panelists would include G0vernment Advisor on Borders, Carl Greenidge; Attorney-at-Law Ralph Ramkarran; Professor Paulo Gustavo Correa of Brazil’s Federal University of Amapa, former Guyana Ambassador to Venezuela, Cheryl Miles; former Guyana Ambassador to the United States, Dr Riyad Insanally, and University of Guyana International Relations final year student, Daynian Denny.

Dr Kirton said Dr Correa’s presentation would be of “significance” , against the backdrop of Brazil’s potential as an interlocutor.

The event would be held at the Herdmanston Lodge, Peter Rose and Lamaha streets, Queenstown, Georgetown, on March 28 at 5:30 p.m. (Guyana Time). Alternatively, persons can attend the panel discussion virtually by zoom or use the following Meeting ID: 932 3822 3283 and Passcode: Borders.

Professor Kirton said the panel of experts would be examining the issue in light of the “escalation of aggression” by Venezuela, as a logical follow-up to last year’s discourse on “Territorial Integrity and Contested Borders in Our Region and Beyond.” “We thought it would be useful, especially given the current environment, to dialogue and, indeed, to address some of the information deficits which we believe exists among our citizenry both here and internationally,” he said.

CIBS also plans to c0llaborate with government, private sector, civil society and religious organisations to sensitise Guyanese across home and overseas to “ensure that we have an all-Guyana approach.”