Dear Editor,
Congratulations are in order for the relevant subject matter of the Peeping Tom column titled “The Puppet’s Rewards” in Kaieteur news December 2, 2025 edition. The article in essence dealt with the significance of the Maduro regime in Venezuela, the massive armada in the Caribbean, and our beloved Guyana.
I had written earlier about my own family experience with a first cousin back in the 40s who visited believing and contending that Essequibo belonged to Venezuela where he was born and educated. If, by whatever means, the present leadership in Venezuela is overturned, Guyanese must not be excited nor believing that a change in Venezuela will alter and improve our conditions, with respect to absurd border claim. I know that the majority of Guyanese have a close family member resident in the United States of America, and generally enjoy the bounty of its wealth and opportunities, and therefore many of us pre and post-independence have developed a love and admiration for the United States of America.
I am among those persons who have always maintained an abiding interest, deep affection, and admiration for the United States of America, a people who severed the umbilical cord from our erstwhile masters England in July of 1776, I muse “Remember the Alamo”. Just as within the family if you have a deep affection for a family member that should not allow you to ignore the proclivities, foibles and faults of your beloved family member. Let us look at this triangle – a massive US armada, the absurd claim by Venezuela to Essequibo and our massive oil, gold, and other resources – by itself a fascinating situation worthy of a Hollywood movie.
If there is a change in the administration in Venezuela, we must not believe that such a change could over-night create, as one friend once said, an attitudinal metamorphosis, in fact if Maduro is replaced with an administration, with plenty of muscle, little Guyana may find itself as the old folks say; “jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire”. Others have alluded to the prospect of a mass influx of Venezuelans through our porous and poorly maned border, putting much pressure on housing, health and educational institutions. We lack the capacity to determine whether our new uninvited guest will be of sound character or otherwise.
We heard coming from the top brass of the present administration, drumbeats to welcome all and sundry, in our new world no sensible government will have, as we heard last year, unconditional welcoming to all and sundry, a dangerous situation, a situation that demands the wisdom within our government to go beyond pronouncements, using their control of the several media outlets. The situation requires a government to bring onboard all sections; political, religious, regional and in particular our youth. To prepare them physiologically and otherwise for this possible assault into our country, a place blessed by the creator with untold wealth and no natural disasters, as we see in Indonesia, and many other places.
History will not judge us kindly if the president and those in charge of everything, fail to carry out the sentiments contained in that old folk song “All a we ah one family” popular at “Queh queh” celebrations.