Dear Editor,
I AM respectfully writing this open letter to the President of the United States of America His Excellency Donald Trump. President Trump, Isaiah 1:18 says ‘Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool’, my request to you is to come and let us reason together.
On Wednesday 15 July, 2020, I read in the press that the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced restrictions on individuals undermining democracy in Guyana. The Secretary of State stated, “Today, I am announcing visa restrictions on individuals responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Guyana. Immediate family members of such persons may also be subject to restrictions. The Granger Government must respect the result of democratic elections and step aside.”
President Trump, as a citizen of Guyana who has worked hard and honestly to contribute towards the growth and development of my country and its people, as well as uphold democracy and the rule of law, I wish to state that I respectfully disagree with the decision of the secretary of state and I think that it is an unfair position. This move by the US Government will only accelerate the racial divide and ethnic issues in Guyana. What Guyana needs at this point, after 70 years of ethno-political problems which have led to social and economic exclusion among the two major ethnic groups, Afro-Guyanese, and Indo-Guyanese, is not a declaration but rather a solution.
Most Guyanese know that both the APNU+AFC and the PPP/C were involved in malpractices in the March 2, 2020 elections; as such, it is unfair for the US government to conclude that the APNU+AFC is undermining democracy even though the PPP/C committed similar malpractices and in some instances, maybe worst. The difference, however, is that the PPP/C did not commit the acts in front of the cameras and observers.
President Trump, I believe that this is an injustice being done to the people of Guyana, at least some of the people of Guyana. I do not think that the seriousness of the long-term implications of this situation to Guyana and Guyanese are fully understood by your government. The talk in the street in Guyana is, why is it that the international community is so insistent on a change of administration in Guyana while at the same time are not recognising the wrongs done by the PPP/C and is apparently not even listening to the cries of the APNU+AFC about the irregularities which were committed by the PPP/C? How can one party be undermining democracy and the other party committed the same act and they are not undermining democracy?
The other question that is being asked is, while President Granger is being painted to the world as this President that is undermining democracy in Guyana, the US Government and the international community are adamant about the PPP/C presidential candidate, Mr. Irfaan Ali being sworn in as President of Guyana, despite the fact that Mr. Ali has 19 charges of fraud being processed in the courts of Guyana. Additionally, there are serious questions about Mr. Ali’s academic qualifications. The Canadian Government did not grant Mr. Ali a visa, presumably as a result of the 19 charges of fraud.
On the part of Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the Leader of the Opposition, the list is long as to the allegations and it is public knowledge that the US government is in possession of this information. So, another big question in the Guyanese society is, how is it that the US government and the international community are so aggressively promoting Messrs. Ali and Jagdeo as the upholders of democracy, while President Granger is being projected to the world as undermining democracy?
Mr. President, there are major questions on not only why has the international community turned a blind eye to the malpractices by the PPP/C in the March 2 elections, but the persons in the PPP/C whom the international community are projecting as the upholders of democracy. I am writing to you Mr. President, because this position by your government and the international community conflicts with what many of us were taught over the years about democracy.
I know that a response may be that the will of the people must be respected, despite this information, the people presumably voted for these persons. In this same light the APNU+AFC are advancing the argument that the PPP/C also committed irregularities, and their voices and that of their supporters ought to be heard, in the interest of fairness which is a key element of democracy.
Mr. President, with all due respect, many of us would really like to know what did President Granger do to warrant this response from the international community? Personally, I live in Guyana and I know the country inside out as we would say in Guyana and I do not think that it is accurate to conclude that he is undermining democracy. Is it that President Granger’s crime is being a black leader for a country that will be one of the fastest growing economies and among the 25 largest oil producers in the world?
This approach will not help Guyana and the Guyanese people, Mr. President. A few of us have pulled together an ad hoc, so-called ‘Governance Group’, to find a solution to this current election impasse and governance solutions for our country moving forward. We developed a proposal for an inclusive- governance approach for possibly the next three years, whereby APNU+AFC and the PPP/C will rotate the presidency and prime ministerial positions during this period; other suggestions were also made for an inclusive- governance arrangement. This proposal was shared with our leaders.
My appeal to you President Trump, is that you and your government kindly have a look at this document, as a possible solution for Guyana. Your legacy on Guyana and for the young people of Guyana could be, as the President of the United States who assisted Guyana to solve a 70-year old ethno-political problem and ushered in a new dispensation of social and economic inclusion and not as one who turned a blind eye to the high possibility of a civil war.
Finally Mr. President, the US is well respected for its values, principles and leadership, I am therefore depending on your good office, to apply the country’s strong leadership towards assisting us to change the course of Guyana, as ‘One People’, working towards developing ‘One Nation’ with ‘One Destiny’. Please do not let this be a missed opportunity!
Regards
Citizen Audreyanna Thomas
