Conversation Tree

VENEZUELA’S THREATS ATTRACTS INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION

International condemnation greeted Venezuela’s statement of 19 September rejecting the “illegal bidding” for oil blocks carried out by the Government of Guyana. The statement claims that Guyana does not have sovereign rights over the maritime areas in international law and demarcation must be carried out in agreement with Venezuela. The statement goes on to warn that Venezuela will apply all necessary measures to prevent the “illegitimate exploitation” of its natural resources. Three baffling questions emerge from Venezuela’s statement. The first is that since the areas have not been the subject of demarcation and that without such demarcation (which, incidentally, Foreign Minister Rodrigues-Birkett requested since 2011, to which Venezuela has remained silent), on what basis is Venezuela laying claim to ownership of these areas? The second is, in the absence of demarcation, on what basis has Venezuela already, in 2015, issued decrees appropriating ownership of the entire maritime areas of Guyana? Thirdly, does Guyana have no rights to its exclusive economic zones recognized in international law? This exemplifies Venezuela’s warped logic, on full display since 1962.

HOUSE LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES AND GUYANA

Most Guyanese welcomed the meeting between the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), led the House Democratic Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, and the delegation from the Guyana Government. The statement of the CBC said that it had a productive meeting and discussed energy and food security, regional economic prosperity, and economic stewardship. The strength of the bilateral relationship between Guyana and the US and the need for future dialogue and continued cooperation were emphasized. Nothing about “racism” and ethnic discrimination.

TRENCH CRAPPO

There was insufficient newspaper reporting yesterday on the reasons for the dismissal of the charge against Mr. Sherrod Duncan for referring to a person as a ‘trench crappo’ and a ‘jagabbat’ to determine whether this type of vulgar abuse is legally permitted. Or whether it is vulgar abuse at all. For example, it is not known whether or not the Court ruled that some essential legal element of the charge was not proved or whether the words did not constitute cyber bullying, for which Mr. Duncan was charged. Some reporting clarity would have been useful because, while I do not descend to vulgar abuse privately or publicly, I might have considered a revised approach to polemics, even though its rather late in my blogging career. Who knows? The use of vulgar abuse might even elevate me to the high stature of Mr. Duncan, a parliamentarian, educator, scholar and man of faith.

G 20

The 18^th Summit of the G 20, comprising 19 countries and the European Union, takes place this weekend in New Delhi, India. The Presidency of G 20 is held by India for last year and ends with this Summit. Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, will be the official Chairman under the theme proposed by India of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future.’ At the end of the discussions the Summit is likely to adopt a communique referred to as the Leaders’ Declaration, expressing their commitment to the goals contained in the Declaration. This Declaration is usually thrashed out in scores of Ministerial Meetings and of Working Groups during the course of the preceding year. The 19 countries in the G 20 are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK and the US.

‘EXPLORE ALL TOOLS’ FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS

What are these tools? I was a member of the Elections Commission for the 1973 elections. I was also a member of the Elections Commission for the 1992, 1997 and 2001 elections. I have witnessed first-hand the ‘tools’ used in the darkest days of election rigging in 1973, the incipient steps in 1992 to put in place the basic tools to ensure free and fair elections and the explosion of resources, staffing, training, equipment, education, publicity, some of it with generous foreign help, for the Elections Commission. Since I had developed an interest in election management, I thereafter followed developments closely and was impressed with the work of the Elections Commission under its Chair Steve Surujballi to further perfect the election management methodologies. There is nothing in the structure of the Elections Commission or in its rules and practices, and no shortage of tools, that hinder free and fair elections. It is the culture of thievery that is deeply embedded in one part of our political culture that is responsible for election rigging. Unless there are structural reforms to our governance system, this culture of thievery will persist.