Dear Editor,
Reference is made to your editorial “Deafness” (Jul 31) as relates to US-Guyana relations. Guyana must heed messages via diplomatic language — use of words and phrases — coming out of Washington. Guyana’s future, her development and democratic culture, is tied to the USA and the West, not with any socialist Oriental country seeking global dominance. Failure to heed the underlying message could result in serious repercussions. America is our natural ally given geographic proximity, geo strategic security interests, democratic culture, guarantor of free and fair elections, trade, financial aid, investments, and large diaspora (bigger than the population of Guyana) in the USA. Besides, the diaspora in the USA wants closer ties, even an association or alliance, with America.
The US is the hegemonic power of the region. Any defiance that threatens the US’s interests will lead to serious consequences. Guyana toyed with close relations with the Soviet led socialist bloc between the 1950s and 1990, and we were severely burnt and is yet to recover from that experience. Fraternizing with another power alien to the region will hurt our country, especially now that we are producing oil, a commodity which is in demand by the US and western allies, and which would fund our development. We would not like a repeat of the political consequences of 1953, 1964, 1992, 2015, and 2020. The US has been our guarantor of regime change and democracy.
As you noted, the government has not forgotten that USA ensured “the results of the 2020 election were observed”. For that alone, Guyana should eternally be grateful. And indeed the majority of the Guyanese people are thankful to America for coming to the rescue of democracy. The diaspora is also grateful that the US protected the rights of Guyanese to choose their government. China, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela made no attempt to condemn electoral fraud or urged the then regime to respect the will of the people. If the US had not spoken out forcefully, Guyana would have become an undemocratic pariah state. And as you noted, the US is concerned about China’s influence in the Americas.
And while we may not be privy to the discussions in Washington relating to China, it must be assumed that the matter would have been raised with the visiting delegation as China has been on the minds of American policymakers over the last decade. Guyana should not become over dependent on Chinese loans or investment to the detriment of US investment. It must not go unnoticed that US$2 billion Exim Bank line of credit has been made available to American private investment in Guyana. Insurance is also generally offered to American investment abroad. This suggests that the US wants and will encourage American investment to compete with or replace Chinese investment in Guyana.
Like President Ali, I too am excited that American investment is returning to Guyana after they were chased out by the Burnham dictatorship. The diaspora is also pleased to see greater American investment in their homeland.
They know that greater American presence is good for the country. They recognize America’s role in securing democracy there. Guyana should offer favourable terms to diaspora investors. Guyana should unshackle financial ties with countries that don’t protect or subscribe our democratic culture, and that the country should encourage and embrace American investment.
Incentives should be offered to increase American investment. The diaspora in America should take advantage of the Exim bank credit line and invest in various projects in their former homeland. Since they want to cement ties between Guyana and USA, their investment would bring the two countries closer. As investment grow as, the US would have greater interest in ensuring that democracy is not threatened as in 2020. And as the two nations become closer through trade and people to people contact, the US would be more inclined to protect our nascent democracy.
Sincerely,
Vishnu Bisram
