The Argyle peace pact made between Presidents, Dr. Irfaan Ali and Nicolas Maduro following their meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in December 2023 did not nullify the extremist and dictatorial measures taken by Maduro in an attempt to annex Guyana’s Essequibo. Nevertheless, Guyana’s Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said today that there has not been a single case of hesitancy by international players to continue operating or even further investments in Guyana.
Days after his December 3 referendum was voted upon, Maduro had announced the appointment of a governor of Guyana’s Essequibo Region. He also announced that he and his team will grant concessions in Guyana’s Essequibo region. Further, the dictatorial leader said that companies operating in Guyana’s Essequibo area have three months to remove from that area.
Those announcements, along with the build-up of troops near Guyana’s border have caused many to worry if businesses would have been intimidated.
Today, Dr. Jagdeo held his first press conference for the year 2024. From the Office of the President, he responded to questions about any repercussions Guyana’s business sector might have felt as a result of Maduro’s tactics.
Dr. Jagdeo said that initially, there was a small wave of hesitancy or concerns coming out from a few local investors. He said that assurances were given to that handful of entrepreneurs, and those concerns quelled.
But not a single foreign investor was deterred from coming to Guyana or continuing investments here.
Dr. Jagdeo said he believes many international players understand the issue and are looking at Guyana in the long term.
“They know we have the international community on our side. They are assured by Guyana’s commitment to international law and global norms,” said Dr. Jagdeo.
The former president said that concern usually brews in the minds of investors when the investments are made in countries that are shaking on their moral and legal standing. He said being that Guyana has shown itself to be consistent in its respect for the law, there is no need to worry. Further, the VP said that Guyana’s commitment to building investor confidence has not wavered.
