Dear Editor,
I read that High Commissioner to India, Mr. Charrandass Persaud, seen as a hero for his brave and courageous vote in favour of the no-confidence motion in December 2018, motivated by conscience, will be returning home.

A suitable replacement is needed to champion Guyana’s interests in India. I can’t think of anyone who is better qualified for the position than the diplomacy specialist, prolific writer, and diaspora activist, Dr. Vishnu Bisram. He has all the qualities to be an excellent ambassador cum representative in India.

Although not a career foreign service diplomat of the Government of Guyana, Dr. Bisram has been serving as a sort of non-official ‘diplomat and ambassador,’ promoting Guyana’s interests in America, India, and other countries over the last four decades. Wherever he travelled and lectured, he promoted Guyana and advocated and championed Guyana’s and the Guyanese diaspora interests.

Dr. Bisram is well known for his consistent advocacy for free and fair elections in Guyana since the late 1960s and was never fearful to condemn fraud and violations of human rights or to organise protests, rallies, marches, and petition drives in USA and Guyana. He belonged to that very small group of Guyanese activists dedicated to the country’s causes. He worked closely with American politicians to help focus attention on Guyana.

His lobbying and advocacy motivated American and other influential global figures to pressure the dictatorship to restore democracy and free and fair elections in Guyana in 1992. In addition, he helped to organise and co-ordinate Guyanese diasporic activities in the USA and write on the community since 1977.

He has been very active in a number of Guyanese, Caribbean, and Asian-Indian organisations in addition to writing for several publications. He has been repeatedly honoured for his activism and journalism by community-based organisations.

Dr. Bisram is a highly educated and well-rounded distinguished scholar, intellectual, creative thinker, writer, community leader and organiser uniquely qualified in the field of diplomacy.  He studied foreign policy (relations), international politics, international relations, diplomacy, and history.

He is a specialist on Indian and Asian Affairs. He holds PhDs in several disciplines including International Politics (Relations), Sociology, Economics, and History.
He is also a holder of multiple Master’s Degrees including in Education Administration, and an undergraduate degree in Bio-Chemistry as well as a BA Major in Political Science.

He was the recipient of distinguished “Who Is Who” Award for Student Leaders in American Universities for his services as an elected student leader, providing leadership while also maintaining high scholastic achievements.

Dr Bisram organised and or presented papers at countless academic conferences and seminars in India and was a guest lecturer at many universities all over India in addition to other countries. He has been a regular visitor to India having visited countless times. He has maintained close, high-level contacts in India.

He was successful in getting the Indian Government to issue statements relating to the violation of human rights in Guyana during the dictatorship, as well as during the attempts to rig the March 2020 General and Regional Elections and in lobbying for increased financial assistance and educational scholarships for Guyana for the last couple decades. He was also awarded a grant to study in India in addition to studying in several other countries.

Dr. Bisram is widely known in several countries for his engagement with the public and government officials, and pays attention to details on varied matters. He has earned respect not only among the diaspora, but also internationally, including in India and Guyana.

For all the above reasons, might I recommend Dr Vishnu Bisram for the vacancy of High Commissioner to India.

Yours Sincerely,
Dr. Kumar Mahabir