A Primer into 21st Century Caribbean Geopolitics: The Importance of Guyana

In a region with 15 full member states, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is comprised of numerous borders, ranging from 10 land borders and 37 maritime boundaries. Cedric Griffith argues that CARICOM Member States need to acknowledge that boundaries are no longer ‘fundamentally unique, sensitive and bilateral in nature’, especially given the plethora of disputed borders and boundaries within the Community, from Guyana to Venezuela, Belize and Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. CARICOM’s position on all border disputes regarding its Member States has been basically the same, once the “sovereignty, security and territorial integrity” of the Member State is ensured.

Geopolitically, the CARICOM region, as we know it, is comprised of numerous small and very small territories in the insular Caribbean, Central and South America. Due to our geographic location, we are located relatively close to extremely large and powerful global actors, with the USA in the North, Brazil in the South and Cuba in the central Caribbean. For those in the island chain, they battle the ongoing challenges with post-colonial legacies of European interests still active in their daily life. Outside of external influences, the Caribbean battles with environmental challenges surrounding climate change, fragile ecologies, limited distribution of natural resources and a conundrum of border issues.

As the only English-speaking country in South America, Guyana represents the cornerstone on which we in the Caribbean must place our hopes and aspirations for deeper Caribbean integration at this time. Its strategic location in South America, with land and maritime corridors, and several neighbours which offer significant market opportunities for all Caribbean businesses and service providers. Guyana’s ability to provide the staples of the West Indian diet, from rice to sweet potatoes to the finest of fruits and vegetables, represents an opportunity for us to achieve some facets of food security. Guyana is simultaneously involved in our own CARICOM integration arrangements as well as South American integration arrangements. We in CARICOM can also benefit from existing arrangements which allow goods and services to cross the Lethem Border into Bon Fim, Brazil with onward connections to Boa Vista and other metropolitan cities in Brazil.

Having explored and crossed every river in Guyana since 2006, I have marvelled at the ‘hidden’ capabilities of the country. From Georgetown to Tain to Parika, across the Berbice and Demerara, and on the shores of the Essequibo River, Guyana sits in a precarious position as it carefully balances the interactions of the Latin/South American and the Caribbean regions, and skilfully becomes a gateway to both. A country that is geopolitically rich in resources such as arable land, gold, bauxite, wood, oil and lest not forget, the most important of all, a dedicated and skilled human resource. A human capital that is willing to make a change, no matter how small, through the simple domino effect of shared knowledge and a developmental vision.  

In a world that has changed overnight, where we have left behind the soft powers and predictability of the 20th century into a world that is constantly confronted by crises and convulsions of the diplomatic arenas. We are now in a world where might makes everything conveniently right and small but powerless countries find no refuge in multilateral spaces. The common grounds and public goods are no longer objectives, but instead, it is basic survival and national interest first. A decade ago, Exxon Mobil discovered oil in Guyana which propelled the country to significant economic growth and development. The next long-term goal for Guyana will be its ability to prove itself as a strong and capable oil producing country and ascend to the ranks of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) member state due to Guyana being a developing country with regional and strategic global influence, committed to promoting international and regional peace and security, social and economic sustainable development as well as being a member state of the United Nations fully in support of multilateralism, committed to global governance reform and upholds international law.

Guyana always inspires me to dream big for my region, as we attempt to advance and deepen our integration, although we may be worried about the uncertainty and discomfort that change brings. However, we must bear in mind the infamous saying ‘the more things change, the more they remain the same’, that leaves me to ponder that even in our path to unite closer, we will all maintain what inherently makes us West Indian, whether it be West Indian born in Guyana, Tobago, Jamaica or even St. Vincent, West Indian nevertheless.

Dr. Kai-Ann Skeete is committed to solving regional problems as the Trade Policy Research Fellow of the Shridath Ramphal Centre.