Resist Foreign Domination; Keep Caribbean Peace

The history of the Caribbean is replete with outstanding examples of resistance to foreign domination, our own Chief Chatoyer and the Garifuna being a prime example, and of continuing efforts to keep our region a Zone of Peace. The latter involves not just an absence of war but importantly, avoiding and removing those conditions and circumstances which can lead to armed conflict and all the destruction which comes with it.

Some of the causes of armed conflict between states have their origin, not in real domestic disputes, but in actions by imperial states to trample on the rights of indigenous peoples, to seize their territories and to impose foreign rule and domination over the entire western hemisphere. Many of today’s territorial disputes, in the Caribbean but even moreso in Latin America, Africa and Asia which pit neighbouring states against each other, are in fact inherited from colonialism.

I remember for instance that as Dominica was negotiating the recovery of its independence from Britain, Venezuela laid claim to a tiny island in Dominican waters called Bird Island. Now, Bird Island is a famed bird sanctuary but is reputed to have oil deposits in its waters. Significantly it lies 70 miles west of Dominica but 350 miles north of Venezuela. Clearly, if force was adopted as a means of settlement, Dominica wouldn’t stand a chance.

One particularly worrying dispute from pre-independence time is the one confronting Guyana, with its neighbour Venezuela. The rapacious invasion of indigenous lands by European states led to a large swathe of land in the north-east of South America being divided between three colonial powers and renamed.

The colonies of British Guyana, Dutch Guyana (Surinam) and French Guyane (Cayenne) were born.

Guyana and Surinam have since won their independence, but Cayenne unfortunately remains one of France’s several colonies in the Caribbean.

The problem lies in Guyana’s north-west bordering Venezuela,the largest part of Guyana called Essequibo.

That territory is claimed by Venezuela which does not accept international treaties signed by the colonial British. Worse, very rich deposits of oil have been found in the offshore waters, increasing the stakes and risks.

Fortunately, astute diplomacy by Vincentian Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who has good relations with both contending parties, led to an historic Argyle Agreement whereby both sides agreed not to resort to hostilities but to seek negotiation as a means of settlement.

The problem, besides its origin, lies in the offshore oil for which the US multinational EXXON has signed exploration and development rights with Guyana. This is being seized upon by pugnacious elements in the US administration, especially now the Trump administration is in place. A continuous war of words and provocative actions are undermining peaceful efforts with elements in both camps stoking the fires.

The most recent incident involved the alleged incursion by a Venezuelan armed coast guard vessel which has triggered stout protest from Guyana. CARICOM has, quite naturally, issued its firm support for Guyana while urging both parties to respect the terms of the Argyle Agreement, but again, PM Gonsalves was forced to intervene in the process.

How long can this hold? There is an elephant in the room in the form of the US administration, looking for an opportunity to crush Venezuela and willing to do it under the cloak of “protecting Guyana’s sovereignty”, and the interests of its multinational. It has been more than 40 years since there was war in the Caribbean. Then, internal disputes in the government of Grenada allowed the elephant to intrude, and there is grave danger of a repeat if prudence is not followed, and the Argyle Agreement respected.

This is a particularly dangerous time for war clouds for the Trump administration has virtually declared war on the region, by its tariff policies which will hurt trade and economic development, its vicious deportation scheme including trying to get Caribbean countries to accept non-Caribbean deportees, and now with its ominous warning to the Caribbean to choose between the USA and China under Trump’s for or against policy.

All this while reinstating its criminal sanctions against the Cuban people while saying that Cuban internationalist medical aid is the reason why there are shortages in Cuba.

The greatest danger lies in our selfish pursuits which place the fear of not getting a US visa above national interests. Already, there are elements among us who place the blame on countries which have good relations with Venezuela such as those like SVG which belong to the ALBA bloc. The blame is not being put of the imperial warmongers, it is Caribbean leaders like Ralph, these opportunists say.

Unfortunately, the US or China ultimatum is causing many to stump their toes for some countries have developed good relations with China while some opportunist opposition parties have advocated China ties. Some of these parties like our own NDP, share membership in the right-wing International Democratic

Union with the likes of Trump’s Republican Party and Israeli Prime Minister Netenyahu.

The only way to avoid regional disaster is by regional solidarity, by resisting foreign dictates and insisting of “friends of all, enemies of none”. We have no benefits to get from war in the region or by kow-towing to anydictatorial force.

Chief Chatoyer left us a legacy which we must uphold.

Renwick Rose is a Social and Political commentator.