The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket

Message Board Archives

UK planning new military base in Guyana

 
Superfly 2019-01-05 14:04:34 

Haven't seen this discussed here but last weekend's Sunday Telegraph carried an interview by the British Defence Secretary who stated that the UK government is planning new overseas bases after Brexit.

LINK

While I hope that this is merely wishful thinking on the behalf of the Defence Secretary, or just kite-flying to test the reactions of people in the Caribbean, I hope that the Guyana government tells them to piss off!

EDIT:
The first link is behind a paywall so here is another newspaper article based on the interview -
UK 'could build new military bases around world after Brexit'

 
BeatDball 2019-01-05 17:56:55 

With Her Majesty's bwoys (military type, not cricketers!) in the Land of Many Waters, socihitist venezuela will be quiet like eek-a-mouse!
big grin cool

 
Norm 2019-01-05 18:37:46 

Why would the UK want to build a military base in Guyana? They have nothing to protect in that region. Not to mention, the UK is no longer a superpower or a colonising nation.

Besides, the UK cannot do anything in Guyana without Guyana permission, or anything in the Western hemisphere without US backing.

The whole concept is as stupid as stupid can be.

 
goofballs 2019-01-05 20:16:01 

UK broke!

Unless they want to recolonize Guyana for the oil money and to stop PPP/PNC spilt of people.

 
Superfly 2019-01-05 22:20:02 

In reply to Norm

Don't know how closely you have been following the Brexit debacle but the leading Brexiteers seem to be convinced that once they are out of the EU they will be able to start some sort of neo-colonial trading deal with their former colonies. All of a sudden there is a lot of talk about the "Commonwealth family" and how important it is.

Goofballs is correct, the UK is essentially broke having squandered its vast North Sea oil revenues on finacialising the British economy. The country is now over-dependent on the income from The City and one wonders what they propose to trade with the Commonwealth countries.

More crucially, in the short term, Brexit has exposed the UK's lack of food security and energy security. There have been many alarming reports of how a no-deal Brexit will impact the UK's ability to feed and heat its population.

So it seems that the colonialists are planning to revert to their old ways - that of using other countries to feed them and theft of their natural resources. Guyana would be particularly vulnerable to stirring up of ethnic and racial tensions and then using that as cover to steal its resources. A British army base would be the perfect Trojan horse.

 
DAVE400 2019-01-06 00:33:32 

Realise since Trump the UK relationship with USA ain't as cushy as before?

This seems like a gang member who get kick out looking for weak victims...

 
Casper 2019-01-06 16:38:04 

In reply to Norm

Who’s say this is not what the Guyanese Government wants?

You should know by now, when it comes to Oil, all kinds of governments get greedy.

Who is to say that Venezuela, with Russia extending its wings into America’s backyard and with the new Right-wing government in Brazil, they might not have their eyes on Guyana and its new claim to oil resources.

Historically, Britain is the obvious choice to save Guyana from any designs on its resources by Venezuela, Brazil or any other neighbors.

Think strategically my friend and take off those old colonial blinkers in this situation.

 
Narper 2019-01-06 17:10:51 

In reply to Norm

When I was a kid....when people leaving de country by plane they to go to de Base...Atkinson airport wink

So another base coming?

 
Khaga 2019-01-06 17:30:53 

#BrEntry .. lol

 
Norm 2019-01-07 00:21:56 

In reply to Superfly

Guyana would be particularly vulnerable to stirring up of ethnic and racial tensions

Dream on!

The removal of the PPP and now the PNC should be hints to anyone who thinks Guyanese are still that "particularly vulnerable to stirring up of ethnic and racial tensions". Not to mention, Guyanese "particularly" do not trust the British, for years of slavery and then betrayal of Guyana's political independence - several times.

If the British want to be our security guards for a bit of the oil money, we would consider them, along with all the others.

 
maj 2019-01-07 00:30:28 

Guyanese would welcome the Brits with open arms..they pine for the days of Bookers and Fogartys.

They would MAKE GUYANA GREAT AGAIN!!

I could see the MGGA hats now!! big grin

 
Norm 2019-01-07 00:34:36 

In reply to Narper

when people leaving de country by plane they to go to de Base...Atkinson airport

The British built an air base at Soesdyke and named it Atkinson Field, probably in honor of some limey or the other. Guyana renamed the area "Timehri", which means "painted rocks" in a Guyana Amerindian language.

The British also built a submarine base at Makouria, on the Essequibo River opposite Bartica. This was to counter the significant German U-boat presence off the Guyana coast. Nazi Germany wanted to cut off one of Britain's largest sources of aluminium during the Second World War, to slow down the production of British warplanes.

The British also built a smaller facility at Ruimveldt for seaplanes.

Atkinson Field was converted into a civilian airport after the war. The Ruimveldt facility was also handed over to the local government, but the fate of the Makouria submarine base was never made known.

 
Norm 2019-01-07 00:35:39 

In reply to maj

they pine for the days of Bookers and Fogartys.

A few spineless traitors do, alright. I trust you are not among them.

 
Norm 2019-01-07 00:47:53 

In reply to Casper

Who is to say that Venezuela, with Russia extending its wings into America’s backyard and with the new Right-wing government in Brazil, they might not have their eyes on Guyana and its new claim to oil resources.

Venezuela is everybody's worst neighbor in South America, and even as far away as Grenada. Brazil is everyone's best neighbor in South America, and they help to keep Venezuela's borders stable. Brazil has always worked to maximize control of its own resources, including its relatively new and deep offshore oil deposits. If anything, Brazil will assist in a very neighborly way, as they have always done with regard to Guyana.

Russia too has always worked well with Guyana. They currently operate bauxite mines in Guyana's Linden area.

Historically, Britain is the obvious choice to save Guyana from any designs on its resources by Venezuela, Brazil or any other neighbors.

Think strategically my friend and take off those old colonial blinkers in this situation.

Yeah, right. Spoken like a true Bajan, who have a statue of Lord Nelson in the middle their capital!

Guyana wants nothing in particular to do with Britain, which has always treated Guyana with an attitude bordering on contempt (with a few exceptions). If they want to conduct business with Guyana, it will be on the same terms as any other nation.

US companies have proven to be the most reliable partners, perhaps because their own courts could be relied upon to provide justice, in legal disputes.

 
maj 2019-01-07 01:07:55 

In reply to Norm

Really the PPP and PNC are bright bulbs in Guyana right now. Guyana would be better served undee the Brits..see Guyana history since independence.

 
Norm 2019-01-07 01:58:20 

In reply to maj

Guyana would be better served undee the Brits

So, better servitude than self determination, right?

see Guyana history since independence.

Not great yet, but that's the price for self determination, and the associated growth. Guyana may wind up like Haiti, or Singapore, but by her own determination.

 
maj 2019-01-07 02:05:05 

In reply to Norm,


So, better servitude than self determination, right?


No better governance, not outright rule as colonialism is dead.
This current group lacks a country first ideal.

 
Norm 2019-01-07 04:47:50 

In reply to maj

better governance

For whom?

This current group lacks a country first ideal.

Largely true, but it is taking hold, slowly.

 
maj 2019-01-07 14:30:23 

In reply to Norm

You think this current Ensure government has its people at heart or just some of the people.

 
Narper 2019-01-07 16:35:08 

In reply to Norm

The Ruimveldt facility was also handed over to the local government,


I lived a quarter of a mile from this one...we called it the ramp....seaplanes landed here in the Demerara river...then crawled up the ramp wink

 
Norm 2019-01-07 17:30:43 

In reply to maj

The Guyanese people are starting to recognize that they could hold their government accountable through coalitions, to counter ethnic politics. They don't need to run to either the PNC or PPP anymore.

These parties now have to start paying attention to their support base. The people no longer have to rely on the ruling party having the people's interests at heart. The main parties have to now be afraid that disgruntled supporters will form their own parties, which will then form coalitions.

The PNC came to power legitimately, and the PPP lost power, only via coalitions.

 
maj 2019-01-07 17:59:31 

In reply to Norm

Yes the PPP still garnered the majority of votes. Don't think you can call the AFC the voice of those fed up ethnic politics. They billed themselves as so but became lapdogs for APNU.

those who voted for the AFC and change will go right back to voting PPP. They were fooled once but were living better under the POP.

If anyone learned a lesson it was the PPP. Can't take the Indian vote for granted anymore.

 
Runs 2019-01-07 18:11:36 

In reply to maj

Agreed