The Ambassador of the United States of America to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Her Excellency Mme. Sarah-Ann Lynch, is about to conclude her assignment in Guyana. Ambassador Lynch has been the most consequential resident American representative in Guyana in its history. The impact of her diplomatic work has surpassed that of all other Americans, with the exception of President Jimmy Carter.
Ambassador Lynch came to Guyana in March 2019, at a time of hope as well as significant challenges. A political coalition, APNU+AFC, had won the elections in 2015, displacing the PPP which had been in office for twenty-three years. The hopes of Guyanese soared when, shortly after APNU+AFC assumed office in 2015, ExxonMobil announced the discovery of oil in the Stabroek Block. Challenges emerged after a no confidence motion against the Government was successfully passed in December 2018. A political crisis had developed because the Government had not resigned, and elections were not held in three months as required by the Constitution. Ambassador Lynch presented her credentials in the month in which elections were due. As the month of March passed, it had become clear that democracy was unravelling.