Facts on claim by Venezuela reaching public - Rohee cites radio, TV programmes Stabroek News December 11, 1999 The Guyanese public is being kept informed about the issues involved in Venezuela's claim to the Essequibo region by a number of activities, according to Foreign Minister, Clement Rohee. He told a press conference on Thursday that while a focused public education campaign conducted by a public relations firm had not been undertaken by the government, there was a number of activities which helped to heighten awareness of the issues. Heightened public awareness was recognised as a necessity following Venezuela's reassertion of its claim on October 3, the centenary of the 1899 Arbitral Award delivered in Paris, France as a full and final settlement of the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela. Caracas continues to reject the award claiming that collusion between the United States of America and the United Kingdom deprived it of the Essequibo region. The awareness, Rohee said, included his ministry's weekly programme on radio and television, 'Foreign Affairs Forum'; its quarterly publication Takuba News, which in its upcoming issue deals with the controversy; the Guyana Cook-Up Show, hosted by Allan Fenty on CNS Channel 6; and the playing of Dave Martins' "Not a Blade of Grass" on the Good Morning Guyana programme. Rohee said that another vehicle would be the upcoming debate on the controversy at the next sitting of the National Assembly. This sitting, he said, was likely to be held before Christmas. The government and opposition parties have already agreed the text of the motion to be debated and it is likely that some additional initiatives will be proposed during those proceedings. Conducting a public education programme to heighten public awareness of the issues surrounding Venezuela's claim to the Essequibo region was recommended by a public forum sponsored by the Guyana Is First group. Rohee had said that his ministry would consider the suggestion. A © page from: Guyana: Land of Six Peoples