Dear Editor,
What is Ambassador Richard Van West Charles still doing in Caracas? In the wake of a crippling economic and political crisis confronting the Maduro regime, Guyana has witnessed nay experienced unprecedented aggressive rhetoric and actions as part of a deliberate confrontational policy in its illegal pursuit of the entire Essequibo. This is despite ongoing deliberations by the International Court of Justice in the Hague over the claim. In December 2023 Venezuela held a ‘referendum’ asking citizens whether Essequibo should become a state of Venezuela. The ‘results’ showed overwhelming support for such action. Then there was the infamous Argyle Declaration in St Vincent and the Grenadines in December 2023 between the two Heads of Government. Apart from since blatant violations of this Agreement by Venezuela it bluntly stated in the communique its “lack of consent and lack of recognition of the International Court and its jurisdiction in the border controversy” Yet President Ali went ahead and signed the agreement.
Over the past year there have been military and non-military incursions on both sea and land with little tangible reactions by the Government. Apart from this Guyana’s border continues to be used unchecked by Venezuelan gangs for gold and drug-smuggling while thousands of Venezuelans are allowed to flow into Guyana with no apparent restraint by their government. Some security observers have pointed to the possibility of military plants being within these migrant groups. The question therefore is what diplomatic role is Ambassador Van West Charles capable of performing in Caracas today? Are there any indications that the Maduro regime is disposed and/or willing to engage Guyana’s emissary in any diplomatic dialogue on its spurious claim?
Ambassadors can and are recalled for among other reasons [1] consultations to protest a foreign policy decision or action by the host country; [2] to send a strong message about the state of diplomatic relations between the two countries and [3] to send a message that the host needs to amend its offensive actions. The purpose of the act is to show the host that they have done something unacceptable. Maybe Minister Todd could enlighten the nation about the rationale behind the government’s decision not to recall Ambassador Van West Charles in protest over Maduro’s aggressive actions, his attacks on Guyana’s sovereignty and his continuing sabre-rattling