Dear Editor,
Irrespective of the clear disagreements OVP has with Minister Winston Jordan in terms of his national vision and economic policies, as patriots we must congratulate him on his recent defence of our sovereignty. It is in this spirit that I applaud the Minister for admonishing the US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, who wrote an op-ed commenting on and attempting to direct our national affairs. OVP has always taken a firm stand against the way in which diplomats from the ABC countries feel that it is their right to constantly comment on and interfere in Guyana’s domestic and foreign affairs. This is an affront to our independence and sovereignty. The blatantly arrogant and paternalistic manner of these diplomats leaves one questioning whether they fully understand that Guyana is no longer a colony. I am sure that Mr Holloway and other Western diplomats share the sentiment expressed by one-time British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, when he said that “colonies do not cease to be colonies because they are independent”.
These diplomats, and the imperial powers they represent, see Guyana as nothing more than a neocolonial outpost. They treat our politicians as mere governors of territories over which they still exercise full control and influence. Unfortunately, except for rare instances like Minister Jordan’s recent welcome statements, our politicians lack the courage and confidence to oppose this offensive and inappropriate relationship. Our current politicians don’t seem to have a clue about the insidious nature of neocolonialism and the way in which our lack of true independence is retarding the development of our country and our people.
Mr Holloway and other Western diplomats would be better off addressing the issues in their own countries, such as the rising tide of far-right extremism, gun violence to the point where parents are afraid to send their children to school and US citizens are nervous in public spaces, escalating poverty, illiteracy, and the extra-judicial killing of Black people by the police, and leave the business of Guyana to Guyanese. We don’t need to be told what to do or what not to do by anyone, especially by the representative of a global imperial power such as the US.
We all know that there would be zero tolerance on the part of the US government if Guyana’s ambassador to the US were to constantly comment on US domestic and foreign policy, and was to meet with various interest groups, political organizations and parties in the US in an attempt to influence the internal affairs of that country. We may be a David in relation to a Goliath but that does not negate our absolute right to independence and self-determination. These God-given rights are fundamental in a true democracy.
OVP adds our voice to Minister Jordan’s request for Mr. Holloway to know his place as a foreign diplomat and to remain within the parameters of his diplomatic mission.
Yours faithfully,
Gerald A Perreira
Organization for the Victory of the
People
