‘Don’t use visa as a weapon’
Guyana’s Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo
Guyana’s Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo

PM says Guyanese do not subscribe to such type of bullyism, invasion
THE United States (U.S.) visa should not be used as a “weapon of bullyism” or as a form of “terror diplomacy” to Guyanese, citizens of a sovereign nation, awaiting the judicial and legal conclusion to their elections.

This is according to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who said, on Sunday, that though the U.S. State Department has placed “visa restrictions” on unknown State and elections officials for their alleged role in “undermining democracy”, Guyanese do not subscribe to such acts of invasion.
“The apparent rape of Guyana’s sovereignty, and the naked threat of sanctions have elicited an emotional wave of patriotic sentiments. Many Guyanese have identified themselves with, and have posted on social media, the country’s National Pledge. They pledge ‘to be obedient and loyal to Guyana’, and not allow the lure of a foreign visa to be placed around their necks as an instrument of hate and rejection. Having lived under the shadows of sanctions almost all of my political life, I readily identify with the way Guyanese feel over the use of a foreign visa as a weapon of bullyism; a form of terror diplomacy. Like them, I did not cringe in the past, and I am not about to do so now,” he wrote in his weekly column, My Turn.

The Prime Minister pointed out that in the ongoing four-and-a-half month elections, a fresh dispute has arisen between the main political parties and the High Court is expected to rule on the matter today.

However, he noted that this did not stop U.S. from unnecessarily stepping in to announce visa sanctions, an act which American Congressman, Hakeem Jeffries and Congresswoman, Yvette Clarke, described as an infringement of Guyana’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Government expressed regret over the decision taken by the U.S. State Department, since the matter affecting the outcome of the elections is still before the courts and no declaration of the results of the elections has been made.
Nagamootoo stated that in 1953, the British sanctioned Guyana in the form of an armed invasion whereby key Guyanese leaders were jailed, their movement was restricted and they were banned from overseas travel. Even so, the PM said that “…no one could stop the tide. Guyana eventually gained her independence.”

He also highlighted the Cuban Revolution, when the West charged that Guyana would become another Cuba and the protests against the unjust war in Vietnam, the coup in Chile, Apartheid in South Africa and the 1983 U.S. invasion in Grenada when Guyana rallied for solidarity, not sanction.

Speaking to the latter, he said: “I was the last voice on telephone with Radio Free Grenada before a bomb fell on the studio…my generation has lived through colonial and post-colonial rule, always under the shadows of sanctions.”
Prime Minister Nagamootoo said that until 1989, he hadn’t the desire to visit the U.S. and did so for the first time at the end of the Cold War to lobby for free and fair elections, and for support to end post-independence, one-party rule in Guyana.
“We found great friends in America. Looking back at what we achieved then, it is timely to note that the only support that would make any sense is that aimed at preventing the return of one-race, one-party authoritarian rule in our multi-ethnic society,” he said.

He emphasized that the “big stick” method of the U.S. will not work and never has as noted by William Appleman Williams in the ‘Tragedy of American Diplomacy’. Nagamootoo said that what is needed is engagement on the national levels amongst the two main political parties, otherwise, Guyana will embark on the challenging task of pursuing development as a divided nation.

He urged: “The most difficult political challenges are ahead. For this, Guyana needs engagement, not isolation, not sanctions. The leaders have to come to the table and work out a post-election détente. The time for this is now!”

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