Support for security alliance with America

Dear Editor,
The US has long considered Guyana as being geo-strategically important, and that is why it has been involved in Guyana’s internal politics going back to the 1950s; and even before that, in acquiring naval and military bases during WWII.
Since the discovery of oil, there is a convergence of socio-economic and security interests of the US and Guyana. The US-Guyana relationship, long defined by Cold War politics and strategic geo-political interests, is now being re-defined by this newly discovered oil interest.
In field research in 2018, I collected data from Guyanese regarding how they view the relationship between the US and Guyana. The findings gave a general view of the major ethnic groups’ attitudes towards America. Those views have not changed much from 2018 to now, even though there has been a change in administration, from APNU (May 2015-July 2020) to PPP governance.
In general, Guyanese agree there should be some kind of security alliance with America. In fact, supporters of the PPP almost entirely support American involvement in protecting democracy and holding free and fair elections.
In the strategic security survey of 1530 individuals (41% Indians, 30% Africans, 18% Mixed, 10% Amerindians, and 1% others), 85% support closer relations with the US, with Indians, at 97%, leading all groups; followed by Amerindians at 86%, Mixed at 75%, and Africans at 72%. In addition, some 93% feel Guyana should enter into some kind of strategic security alliance with America.
The PPP Administration is encouraged to pursue this alliance.
A large majority of Guyanese expressed concern about an end to democratic governance in Guyana, as though they predicted electoral fraud in 2020. But there are some differences by race. For Indians, guaranteeing democracy and free and fair elections was/is the pre-eminent aspect of the relationship, because of the history of rigged elections by the PNC (APNU). Africans and Mixed races were more interested in financial aid for Guyana, and US support for the retention of power of the coalition APNU+AFC.
The US was primarily responsible for the installation of the APNU-led regime in 2015, but it has disappointed Washington with its handling of corruption, drug trafficking and Venezuela; its racist governance; and, finally, the attempt to rig the 2020 election. The racially inspired violence against Indians in September would have further eroded confidence in APNU and AFC.
There are more Indo-Guyanese than Afro-Guyanese who want the PPP to build a partnership with the USA. Almost every Indo-Guyanese said they wanted the US to be the guarantor of free and fair elections. Indo-Guyanese wanted the US to take a strong stand against electoral fraud, and to revoke the visas and take other measures against those who violate democratic rights and engage in any plan to rig elections.
Afro-Guyanese don’t feel America should intervene in Guyana’s elections or in Guyana’s politics, even if to protect democratic rights.
Almost everyone said America is the most important trade and national security partner of Guyana. However, more Indians than Africans support American investment in Guyana and closer relations with US. Indo-Guyanese-Americans are more likely than Afro-Guyanese-Americans to want stronger economic ties with the USA.
Guyanese of all ethnicities would like to see improved relations with the USA, in light of the (security) challenges (border and oil politics) facing the country. Guyanese say there are cultural, economic (trade, business, investment, foreign aid), immigration, military, security against border incursions, and threats to oil explorations, political (democratic and humanitarian), drug- trafficking, money laundering, and educational reasons, among others, for Guyana to have much closer relations with America. They would like the US to provide greater developmental assistance, including loans; open up to immigration; provide more security and defence aid; establish an office to combat drug and human trafficking, and money laundering; encourage investment in Guyana, and negotiate a trade agreement.
The research reveals that Guyanese at home and in the diaspora fully support an alliance (particularly on security, business, trade, and private investment) with America. This conclusion is also supported by empirical observation and anecdotal evidence in this writer’s interactions with Guyanese- Americans at countless community events in the US.
Guyanese view the relative importance of economic and security ties with the US differently, along racial and party partisan lines. Supporters of the PPP are almost unanimous when it comes to the issue of developing strong economic ties with America, as they see their lives improving with a stronger US linkage. Almost every Indian, Portuguese, and Amerindian want America to be more closely involved in the territorial security, policy matters, free and fair elections, and economic investment in Guyana. They want the US to help further institutionalise democracy in Guyana, especially in guaranteeing free and fair elections in the future.
Africans and Mixed, and supporters of APNU, are not very enthused about closer relations with America. This feeling may have worsened with the US demanding that APNU accept the outcome of democratic elections.
Guyanese-Americans feel that political parties in Guyana should work closely with US authorities to advance mutual interests and respect for each other’s views.
That survey in 2018 found 62% had a favourable (and 35% unfavourable) view of then Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who led then President David Granger who had 43% favourable and 53% unfavourable rating.

Yours truly,
Dr Vishnu Bisram