Guyana | El paso de Mike Pompeo dejó acuerdos para «combatir el narcotráfico» y favorecer la inversión estadounidense
Pompeo insiste con la salida de Nicolás Maduro durante su paso por Guyana
El secretario de Estado norteamericano, Mike Pompeo, reclamó hoy otra vez la salida del poder del presidente de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, en una parada en Guyana en el marco de una gira por Sudamérica.
«Sabemos que el régimen de Maduro ha diezmado al pueblo de Venezuela y que el propio Maduro es un narcotraficante acusado. Eso significa que tiene que irse», dijo Pompeo en Georgetown en conferencia de prensa conjunta con el presidente de Guyana, Irfaan Ali.
El diplomático estadounidense también resaltó la ayuda de 3 millones de dólares que Washington brindó para colaborar con Guyana en la ayuda a refugiados venezolanos, informó la agencia de noticias AFP
El pequeño país del noreste de América del Sur acogió alrededor de 22.000 de los casi 5 millones de venezolanos que se fueron de su país por la crisis económica.
Unos 50 países, incluido Estados Unidos, consideran fraudulenta la reelección de Maduro en 2018 y exigen el restablecimiento de la democracia en el país sudamericano.
A principios de este año, el Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos presentó cargos por tráfico de drogas contra Maduro y su circulo íntimo, y ofreció una recompensa de 15 millones de dólares por su detención.
Venezuela negó los cargos y subrayó que la acusación forma parte del sistemático ataque promovido por la Casa Blanca para descalificar al país y hacerlo pasar como un «narcoestado», con el propósito de propiciar una invasión militar.
Pompeo tiene previsto visitar más tarde la frontera de Brasil con Venezuela, antes de dirigirse a Colombia, como parte de una campaña para derrocar al gobierno de Nicolás Maduro.
Antes de su parada en Guyana, Pompeo visitó Surinam, dos naciones en las que recientemente se halló petróleo.
Joint U.S, Guyana maritime patrols to combat narco-trafficking to start Monday
Guyana and the United States on Friday morning officially entered into a bilateral Shiprider Agreement which will come into effect as early as next Monday and which will enable joint maritime and airspace patrols to interdict narcotics.
The signing was done at State House – President Irfaan Ali’s official residence – between Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd and U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who is currently on an official visit to the South American region.
It was noted that operations will not be carried out in Guyana’s waters unless permission is granted by Guyanese authorities.
It was Pompeo who clarified that the new security agreement to combat narcotic trafficking will come into effect by next Monday.
In my meeting with Foreign Minister Todd, we discussed how greater bilateral and regional cooperation between the United States and Guyana can advance our shared goals of prosperity and democracy. pic.twitter.com/A7assyRN5t
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) September 18, 2020
In keeping with his proposed agenda for his visit to Guyana, Pompeo also signed a Growth in the Americas Memorandum of Understanding with Minister Todd.
This agreement seeks to draw more U.S. private sector investment to build Guyana’s physical infrastructure, energy sector, and digital economy, and to do so transparently.
The United States is the primary source of Guyana’s imports, worth more than $2 billion.
Secretary Pompeo pointed out that Guyana is the second Caribbean country to sign onto the Growth in the Americas Memorandum of Understanding.
He believes this investment model will deliver real benefits to the people of Guyana and the United States.
“The two agreements we signed this morning are not disconnected… there is lots of conversation about more foreign direct investment, the United States model is to bring out the best things about your country and we don’t do so with political strings tied to them or engaged in activities that are corrupt,” Pompeo told the press.
President Ali welcomed the signing of the agreement saying that he anticipates that it will stimulate the private sector environment in areas of energy and infrastructure
“It will also pave the way for U.S private sector to expand its investment portfolio and partner with local private sector entities…it will allow us to meet our development needs and drive job creation,” the Guyanese President said.
President Ali was also pleased that Guyana and the United States will deepen cooperation in the area of maritime security through joint patrols.
Pompeo who arrived in Guyana Thursday afternoon will leave Guyana later on Friday, destined to Brazil.
Offshore oil sector, fishing to benefit from heightened security under new agreement with U.S.
President Irfaan Ali has said that the new Shiprider Agreement which was signed between Guyana and the United States on Friday and intends to allow for maritime patrols to combat narco-trafficking will also see Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) benefiting from heightened security.
This comes at a time when drilling is currently ongoing in the Stabroek Block with a total of 18 oil discoveries already made by U.S oil giant ExxonMobil but also in the face of unrelenting claims to parts of that maritime space by neighbouring Venezuela.
President Ali said that the improved security of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone, where large scale fishing activities are also ongoing, will not only be in the form of maritime patrols.
He said during discussions with the U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who is currently in Guyana on an official visit, he asked for radar coverage of Guyana’s EEZ.
“We welcome any help that would enhance our security and our ability to protect our borders and most importantly enhance our capability to ensure that we go after criminal elements and this allows us to do that,” Mr Ali said.
With today’s signing of the #GrowthInTheAmericasAgreement, the United States and Guyana will accelerate Guyana’s prosperity and champion private sector investment. Glad to join President Ali on this momentous occasion, a positive step in our bilateral relationship. pic.twitter.com/HA2Z2cLb69
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) September 18, 2020
During a joint press conference at State House on Friday morning with Secretary Pompeo, the President said this assistance with protecting the EEZ is crucial at this time even as he recalled various difficulties in the past.
As recent as December 2018, Esso Exploration & Production and ExxonMobil had reported that vessels under contract by the company were performing exploratory seismic work within the Stabroek block when they were intercepted by the Venezuelan Navy.
Guyana had argued that the vessel was intercepted in the Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf of Guyana.
This new agreement, Mr Ali said, will guard against the recurrence of such acts.
He was supported in his stance by Secretary Pompeo who said that the United States continues to support Guyana’s claim to the Essequibo Region which Venezuela has laid claims to.
Pompeo said Guyana will be in a better position to understand what is happening on its borders and in its Exclusive Economic Zone through this new agreement.
“These are all things that give Guyana sovereignty. The capacity to control your space,” Pompeo added.
It was noted that operations will not be carried out in Guyana’s waters unless permission is granted by Guyanese authorities.
Pompeo clarified that the new security agreement to combat narcotic trafficking will come into effect by next Monday.
This joins recent donations of US$200,000 in equipment and interceptor boat parts to strengthen Guyana’s ability to patrol its territorial waters.
The Department of State has helped to train Guyana’s Port Control Unit to deter the trafficking of cocaine and other illicit goods through Guyana.
The United States Coast Guard provides training and mentoring to the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) in order to improve port security.
Additionally, the United States military provides training of Guyana Defense Forces personnel every year, which includes a current student at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
[gview file=»https://www.nodal.am/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Growth-in-the-Americas-MOU-text.pdf»]Guyana open to investors – President Ali
As Guyana continues to pursue a path of unprecedented growth and development, President Irfaan Ali said that Guyana is open for business and will do what is necessary to support and encourage private sector investments.
“Guyana is open to investments, we are open to investors…in a transparent manner,” President Ali asserted during a joint press conference on Friday with US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.
The President highlighted that the framework agreement signed today between Guyana and the US will pave the way for more concrete collaboration between the private sectors of the two countries.
He posited that the agreement will allow for the mobilsation of US capital and US private sector to participate in the wide-ranging economic opportunities and infrastructural transformation that is expected to take place here.
“More importantly, it has to do with the transfer of knowledge, the transfer of technology, cooperation, building capacity between the US private sector and the local private sector and taking the partnership beyond the two governments to the private sector, so that you will have a greater integration of the private sector and greater participation; and that is what we want”.
According to President Ali, there are great opportunities in Guyana for the diaspora and the US private sector to tap into.
“So I think this agreement not only sends the right signal, but set the foundation for that collaboration, cooperation, transfer of technology and more importantly building of local capacity here,” he posited.
The President noted that oil and gas provides a great impetus to the more macro-economic vision for Guyana. “It allows us to build and expand, and create an environment in which our traditional sectors will become competitive and also gives us additional resources that we can transform the country from an infrastructure perspective.”
He added that the resources from oil will assist Guyana in building a new economy that is focused heavily on knowledge, ICTs, health and education as export commodities and expansion in the agriculture sector.
President Ali highlighted that there is a massive market in CARICOM, but in order for Guyana to become competitive and take advantage, “we have to have economies of scale, so the resources will help us to grow these sectors that will bring additional wealth, create new jobs, and expand economic opportunities for our country”.
Meanwhile, Secretary Pompeo committed to doing what is necessary to assist Guyana in accessing more Foreign Direct Investments from the US private sector.
Noting that the “American model” is based on “building on the best things of your country” he said that US private sector will bring capital, resources and technological capabilities that are much needed to develop resources and infrastructure here.
He added: “we will do the things we can to help American companies be successful, have access, have opportunities to engage in fair and transparent business dealings with Guyana.”
Pompeo, however, expressed that the US is equally interested in seeing the wealth that is created from these opportunities also go to all Guyanese in a transparent and fair way.
Several US companies, including oil giant ExxonMobil, are already operating in Guyana’s oil and gas sector.
Pompeo announces US$5M to support Venezuelans in Guyana
The United States has allocated US$5M to assist Venezuelans in Guyana who were forced to flee their country due to severe economic hardships and other political issues which have gripped the nation in recent years.
This announcement was made by US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, during a media briefing on Friday, following bilateral talks with President Irfaan Ali at State House in Georgetown.
“We talked about the need for democracy in Venezuela and an end to the illegitimate (Nicolas) Maduro regime; the man who is denying that very democracy that the Guyanese people so love, denying that democracy from the people of Venezuela.”
“The US has now allocated US 5M to help Venezuelans in Guyana who have had to flee from Venezuela to Guyana to escape the horrors of brutality of the Maduro regime,” Pompeo announced.
Pompeo said that it is his hope that cooperation between Guyana an US will continue in this regard, adding; “I want to express my personal appreciation for Guyana’s hosting of the Venezuelans that have crossed inside of your country.”
He noted that with the US and Guyana working together great things could be achieved. “I am confident Mr President that we will keep working together and we will do great things alongside each other. I am grateful to see that you share the importance of our relationship,” he told President Ali.
Thousands of Venezuelans continue to seek refuge in Guyana as a result of hardships they are facing in their homeland.
The situation in Venezuela has also led thousands of Guyanese who had been living in Venezuela for many years to return to Guyana.
