Dear Editor,

THE United States and Guyana are supposed to be natural allies – we are democracies and are economically, politically, and culturally tied.  The US is the home of many Guyanese.

The number of Guyanese in America is not known but is estimated at over 800K from a mere few hundreds in the early 1960s. This means there are more Guyanese living in the US than in Guyana, making Guyanese the fastest growing ethnic community in the US. The Guyanese Diaspora has rapidly, almost unprecedentedly, developed from a rather small and apolitical group of first-generation immigrants in the 1960s and 1970s to an economically and socially well-established part of American society in 21st century.

The Diaspora has undoubtedly traversed a long distance from the pioneering immigrants to what is now approaching a million-strong community. Data also reveals that USA is Guyana’s largest trading partner. And the US is the largest source of remittances in the hundreds of millions annually to Guyana. The government must recognise the importance and power of the US-based diaspora and its emergence as an eminent community.

The political relationship between the USA and Guyana started out with the suspension of the democratically-elected government in 1953 in the early years of the cold war and America’s involvement in the removal of the left wing Jagan administration in December 1964. For a few years afterward, the relationship was very cozy with the installed Forbes Burnham Government. But once Burnham steered Guyana leftward, embraced NAM, and established a socialist dictatorship, relations with America soured.

The US put the squeeze on the dictatorship reducing foreign aid.
Guyana has been significant to US geo-politics during the height of the cold war to the present times of strategic convergence with Venezuela posing a serious threat to Guyana and to the US. The US saved Guyana’s democracy in 2020 when the incumbent APNU (PNC) refused to step down from office after it lost the March 20, 2020 elections. Regime change didn’t come about till August 2, 2020.

A visit by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in September 2020 followed by a visit of US investors a month later signalled a US desire for a business partnership between both the democratic countries. The US seeks to win over the President Ali-administration in Georgetown through attracting American investment and co-operation.

The US has served as a guarantor of democracy in Guyana as it did in 1992, pushing the PNC dictatorship to hold free and fair elections and, in 2020, to accept the outcome of the voters’ choice – a majority of who rejected the PNC (APNU). The US power was projected in both Guyanese elections resulting in a change of administration from authoritarian to democratic with the PPP being the beneficiaries. US involvement in protecting democracy in Guyana augments the respect and prestige held by Guyanese at home and in the diaspora, especially in America itself.

Clearly, the Guyanese American diaspora has been an asset to their former homeland in a variety of ways  — sending remittances and lobbying Washington to protect democracy and the country’s borders from foreign claims.  The Guyanese American community is well respected for its achievements and behaviour and for displaying its cultural traditions. Guyanese Americans are acknowledged for work ethos, discipline, and peaceful living. They have a very low incidence of crime.

They are also holders of huge amounts of wealth, home ownership and businesses, in particular and they have among the highest average household income. Indo-Guyanese average household income exceeds US$85K annually according to tax accountants as compared with a national average of $52K. The Guyanese diaspora in the US has contributed significantly to America’s financial well-being, and they can do same in Guyana. Their coveted values ultimately contribute to identity creation, image projection, and image cultivation of Guyanese, undoubtedly an asset to be exploited by the Guyana government.

Guyanese Americans are also an asset in another important way in which they can make a meaningful contribution to Guyana’s development. They are relatively well educated and talented – in the sciences and technology and engineering, in addition to other fields. They make enormous contributions to corporations in America enabling them to make huge amounts of money that factor in US growth and job creation.

These talents and skills can be used for development projects in Guyana as well as establish factories to manufacture products related to oil and gas. They can help to expedite development projects. Guyanese Americans can help in persuading the US government officials to be favourable towards Guyana.  Foreign Direct Investment from USA has been relatively small as compared say with China. Efficient lobbying and promotion of Guyana by the diaspora can increase FDI from America.

In addition to the above, members of the diaspora were effective political players in impacting the dynamics of U.S-Guyana relations in combating the rise of the socialist dictatorship and in rescuing democracy. Their reputation, especially some of them with prominence among American politicians, remains an effective public diplomacy tool for the Guyana Government. The diaspora is a source of strength for Guyana and the government should tap into them to bolster ties with Washington.

Yours sincerely,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram