Opinion

By GHK Lall In a December 16th article titled “Opposition Leader welcomes Guyana-Venezuela peace deal, but criticizes government for lack of preparation for Ali-Maduro meeting.”  I recognize the first part of that caption.  Mr. Norton’s criticism has its place, absorbed with some understanding.  If it sounds as though I am trying to have it both ways, or taking two sides, ...

By GHK Lall The Declaration of Argyle (Declaration) is sure to unleash a torrent of comments in Georgetown and Caracas, and other places as well.  Some will be on the delightful side, others critical.  I try for the clinical.  There will be this in both Guyana and Venezuela celebrating how they did well; with dissenters screaming their disappointment, and denouncements.  ...

By Retiired Rear Admiral, Gary Best; PHd (International Relations) I argue in this piece that the only matter that President Ali can possibly discuss, if he attends this hurried meeting, is for President Maduro to walk back all his decisions to annex Essequibo, particularly since the matter is before the ICJ forfinal determination and, consequently, the multiple prior methods for ...

By Dr. Randy Persaud, Professor Emeritus Some things are worth repeating because not only they are true, but also because some of these truths have real meaning in our contemporary national situation. It is this context that I would like to state once again, that Jagan and Burnham should not be blamed for the conduct of Venezuelan foreign policy viz ...

by GHK Lall Just as I had thought, President Maduro has now made his intentions clear.  Just as I had articulated, the Venezuelan leader has given the first signals of how he plans to go about giving teeth to his visions.  Just as I had feared, Guyana now has to confront the sweep of actions that have been announced, as ...

by GHK Lall The much-watched Venezuelan Referendum was plagued by low turnout, which means a hell of a big turndown.  I repeat for emphasis: a small turnout confirms a big turnup of the nose by neighboring voters at Venezuelan strongman, Nicolas Maduro.  After all of his blubber and bluster, he ain’t look so big, and so bad, now.  But now ...

By Dr. Randy Persaud, Professor Emeritus There comes a time in every nation’s history when all the people raise their heads high into the heavens, anticipating, knowing, something definitive is happening. We are in such a moment now in the face of foreign aggression. And so, on this day – December 3, 2023, from the enchanting vistas of Mabaruma and ...

by GHK Lall There is something in the air that introduces edginess. Something is not smelling right. The atmosphere has a taste that’s strange; it is not quite metallic, but there is an acidic strain about it. It has to do with the good, ole U.S. of A. I am getting the heebie-jeebies, getting ready to stand to attention. Reading ...

By R. Evan Ellis, a Latin America Research Professor at the U.S. Army War College. In the context of unfolding global conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine and the dangers of an increasingly aggressive yet economically fragile People’s Republic of China (PRC), Venezuela’s provocative referendum on its claim to two thirds of the territory of neighboring Guyana has received understandably little attention in Washington, D.C. In seeking ...

By Dr. Randy Persaud, Professor Emeritus For those of us who have studied international affairs extensively, and who have focused on war, there are a few core principles that must always be followed. Here are the core principles as they apply to the current Guyana-Venezuela situation. Firstly, always take threats to your national security, and especially your territorial integrity, seriously. ...