Sara Bharrat, a governance and political analyst, recently launched “Border Watch Guyana,” a podcast about the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy. This initiative is aimed at educating citizens, regional neighbors, and the international community about the escalating controversy from a Guyanese perspective. Bharrat, with a background spanning 16 years across media, communication, and international development, is driving this project as a personal endeavor.
In a comment to OilNOW, Bharrat emphasized the critical need for reliable information on this subject, stating, “The responsibility to ensure that accurate and reliable information is available on the issue from Guyana’s perspective falls, not just on the government and politicians of the day, but on every Guyanese institution, organization and citizen with the capacity and resources to do so.” She expressed concerns about Venezuela’s widespread propaganda and the impact it could have on Guyanese morale.
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The podcast’s inaugural episode delved into recent developments concerning the border controversy. Bharrat narrated, “Over the last few weeks, boatloads of Venezuelans have entered Guyana illegally along the east bank of Essequibo.” This influx follows Venezuela’s decision to hold a referendum on its claim to the Essequibo territory.
Bharrat further discussed the Venezuelan referendum and its implications: “In October, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council moved to include questions in the national referendum scheduled for December 3 that aim to assert their claims over two-thirds of Guyana’s national territory.” She noted that the referendum is controversial, especially the proposition to incorporate Essequibo into Venezuela, which the Guyana government has stated is a violation of international law.
The podcast also addresses the Venezuelan migrant crisis and its impact on Guyana. Bharrat shared, “According to the United States National Immigration Forum, since 2015, more than 7 million Venezuelans have emigrated due to ongoing economic and political turmoil.” She elaborated on the Guyana government’s efforts to manage this influx, emphasizing their commitment to providing essential services and legalizing the status of these migrants.
“Border Watch Guyana” is a crucial informational resource, not only for Guyanese citizens but for a broader audience seeking to understand the complexities of the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy.
Bharrat’s second podcast episode is already out. She is posting on her Facebook, LinkedIn, and Tiktok profiles.
