Gordon Robinson | Great optics but no change

A nation’s foreign affairs can often appear to be governed by the infamous Doctrine of Doing Nothing.

That concept was introduced into Jamaica’s political lexicon by Lisa Hanna in the 2018 Sectoral Debate as she critiqued Jamaica’s weak-kneed response to USA’s hostility towards Venezuela. Well, it seems our Vincentian Uncle Ralph has redefined the Doctrine to “Do Nothing but look like doing something” while hosting “talks” between Venezuela and Guyana’s Presidents. PNP applauded the meeting’s promo. Government stayed away. Six CARICOM Heads of Government attended.

The first confirmation of clear thinkers’ suspicion nothing practical would be accomplished came from a photo of the Presidents greeting. Maduro refused to make eye contact with Ali. Thereafter things went substantively downhill while political optics maximized. Best marketing was a statement afterwards with the epochal sounding title: Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace between Guyana and Venezuela. Or, as Vera Lynn sang We’ll meet again. Translation: No Change.

These were the heads of “agreement”.

• Guyana and Venezuela will not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances….

Translation: No Change. Neither country had threatened or used force against the other. Maduro drew a map!

• Any controversies will be resolved in accordance with international law

Translation: No Change. Both nations always contended they were in accordance with international law. Meanwhile Exxon and Chevron control Essequibo. Maduro drew a map.

• Committed to the pursuance of good neighbourliness, peaceful coexistence and unity of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Translation: No Change! Neighbours regularly disagree. Maduro drew a map.

• Noted Guyana’s assertion that it’s committed to the process and procedures of ICJ for the resolution of the border controversy.

Translation: No Change. Neighbours’ disagreement “noted”. Maduro drew a map.

• Noted Venezuela’s assertion of its lack of consent and lack of recognition of ICJ’s jurisdiction in the border controversy.

Oopsie. Translation: NO CHANGE. Zero agreement on the border dispute. Venezuela was made a party to ICJ referral. Maduro drew a map.

• Agreed to continue dialogue on any other pending matters of mutual importance….

Duh? Like any sovereign nations would. Let’s meet again in a posh hotel with food and drink aplenty. And cameras! Translation: No Change.

• Both States will refrain from escalating any conflict or disagreement.

Translation: No Change. Maduro agrees not to draw another map!

• The States will cooperate to avoid incidents on the ground conducive to tension between them.

Well, there’ve been none. So translation: No Change.

• In the event of such incident the States will immediately communicate with one another, CARICOM, the Community of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC), and President of Brazil to contain, reverse and prevent its recurrence.

Translation: No Change. If the unlikely-to-happen happens, Uncle Ralphie will call the younguns to another meeting and soothe ruffled feathers.

• Agreed to establish a joint commission of Guyana/Venezuela Foreign Ministers and technical persons to address matters as mutually agreed. An update from this commission will be submitted to Guyana/Venezuela’s Presidents within three months.

Ah, a Committee: politicians’ favourite application of the Doctrine of Doing Nothing. Plus another political favourite: an agreement to agree. Translation: No Change.

• PM Ralph Gonsalves, Pro-Tempore CELAC President; PM Roosevelt Skerrit, incumbent CARICOM Chairman; and President

Luiz da Silva of Brazil will remain seized of the matter as Interlocutors and UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, as observer

The kiddies must report to Uncle Ralphie. Translation: No Change.

• PM Gonsalves’ role will continue even after Saint Vincent ceases to be Pro-Tempore CELAC President….and PM Skerrit’s role will continue as a member of the CARICOM Bureau.

Yep, Uncle Ralphie is head of the family. Translation: No Change to Guyana/Venezuelan conflict; all political credit stays with Uncle Ralphie.

• Both States agreed to meet again in Brazil, within the next three months, or at another agreed time, to consider any matter with implications for the disputed territory…

More from Vera Lynn. We’ll meet again? Sure! When? Whenever…. Translation: No Change.

Government swiftly “welcomed” the Joint Declaration “and the de-escalation of tensions which it portends” while PNP hailed the result as “a victory for pro-active diplomacy.” LOL!

This could be a Cryptic Crossword Clue: No truth in politics (6). To solve, remove “l” and “i” then unscramble the remaining anagram. Answer: Optics!

I can see Maduro laughing uproariously on the flight home. Before this high-level fiasco, at least it appeared ICJ could resolve the ancient dispute once and for all. Now we know, like the story of the stork causing babies to come, that’s poppycock!

Peace and Love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com