Issues in Guyana’s Development

Although it has been more than a century since Guyana and Venezuela border dispute was settled, Venezuela continues to shift its foreign policy away from compliance with its international obligations. It is approximately 128 years since diplomatic relations were severed between Venezuela and Great Britain over the border issue. At the insistence of Venezuela, the United States considered the controversy as falling within the purview of the Monroe Doctrine. Consequently, the United States pressured Great Britain into making an Agreement with Venezuela in 1897. Unlike Venezuela which is over two centuries old, it has been 49 years since Guyana gained its independence from Great Britain. Since that time, there have been several challenges to the country's Development. It will be shown that some of these challenges have had devastated consequences for Development. The operating premise is that a country's development objectives are best attained if there is a stable political climate.