WIN’s Tabitha Sarabo-Halley shows limited grasp of Guyana’s foreign policy, regional issues on BBC World Questions

…as Govt reinforces foreign policy

Guyana’s foreign policy and its relationships with regional and international partners came under discussion during the BBC World Questions broadcast on March 11, where Government, opposition, and civil society representatives responded to questions on global alliances and the country’s stance on Cuba.
During the programme, moderated by Jonny Dymond of the BBC World Service, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh highlighted the Government’s position, stating that Guyana remains fully committed to regional integration and its relationship with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Responding to suggestions that Guyana had distanced itself from the regional body, Singh rejected the claim, noting that the country was a founding member and host of the CARICOM Secretariat.
“It is not accurate that we have separated ourselves from CARICOM at all,” Singh contended during the discussion. “Guyana was a founding member, and we remain fully committed to the regional integration movement and its objectives.”
He added that Guyana maintains close relationships with all CARICOM member states and continues to work collaboratively on regional initiatives, including food security.
The discussion also addressed remarks by President Irfaan Ali regarding Cuba and whether Guyana’s position aligns with the United States’ policy.

Called for improvements
During an interview on Saturday with Fox News while in Florida, the Guyanese leader said the time has come for the status quo in Cuba to change in order to improve the lives of the people there and ensure they enjoy prosperity and democracy in the Caribbean nation.
According to Singh, the president had made no reference to regime change in Cuba and instead called for improvements in the lives of the Cuban people. He maintained that the Guyanese Government’s position remains consistent with the broader regional approach.
Only earlier this week, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony disclosed that it was the Government of Cuba, and not Guyana, that terminated the Cuban medical brigade operating in Guyana. He said the Cuban authorities made the decision to withdraw their medical workers in February during engagements between the two Governments.
However, despite the withdrawal of the Cuban Medical Brigade, the Guyanese Government is still open to employing Cuban medical professionals individually, and according to the health Minister, several Cuban medical workers have already taken up this option and are now serving within the country’s public health system.
This development comes on the heels of the United States pushing countries in the Caribbean to end their partnerships with the Cuban regime regarding overseas medical missions, citing issues of human rights abuses and forced labour practices. In fact, the Donald Trump administration has been mounting pressure for regime change in Cuba.
In fact, during the BBC programme, another panellist – the private sector representative, Clinton Urling – framed his comment on the Cuba issue within the realities of international relations. Urling said small states such as Guyana must adopt pragmatic foreign policy approaches given global power dynamics.
He argued that geopolitical realities require countries to maintain flexible relationships, particularly amid regional security concerns, including the longstanding territorial controversy with Venezuela.
Limited understanding of foreign policy
Meanwhile, Tabitha Sarabo Halley, a representative of the main parliamentary opposition party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), questioned the Government’s communication of its foreign policy positions.
During the discussion, she repeatedly demonstrated a limited understanding of foreign policy, relying instead on media reports and public perception to frame her responses. When asked about Guyana’s stance on Cuba and its international alliances, she admitted that her comments were based largely on what she had seen in the media rather than on her own understanding and verified information.
“I can only go based on what I’m hearing in the media,” Sarabo-Halley said, reflecting a reliance on second-hand interpretations rather than a clear grasp of the country’s foreign policy or regional realities.
“We have asked time and time again what is the foreign policy in relation to different issues that are happening around the world,” she said, adding that the country must be more “tactical” in responding to global shifts.
However, when pressed during the programme on whether Guyana was trading long-standing partnerships for closer alignment with the United States, Sarabo-Halley said she did not have complete information on the issue and based her assessment largely on public perception.
Further pressed by the host, Sarabo-Halley said Guyana should not be “…choosing one over the other. I don’t think that is the way to do it… I believe the approach has to be an understanding of where we are as a country. The understanding of…what is the reality. And based on that, I think we, as a nation, need to make certain decisions. Whether or not they disagree about giving up friends… I can only go based on what I’m hearing in the media, and I have no evidence to show that. For example, the Minister of health said today [Tuesday] that Cuba actually stopped the decision to bring in a person. So, if Cuba made that decision, then Guyana did not… But I don’t have all of the information. But based on the perception of the population, it looks as though Guyana is choosing to push Cuba aside in the interest of the United States. If that is what Guyana’s doing, I don’t think that’s right. I don’t think that would be the right approach.”
Other participants in the programme referenced the historical relationship between Guyana and Cuba, particularly in areas such as healthcare and education. Concerns were raised about the possible implications for medical cooperation if relations were to change.

Balanced, pragmatic foreign policy
Throughout the discussion, Dr Singh emphasised that Guyana continues to pursue a balanced and pragmatic foreign policy while maintaining its regional commitments and strategic partnerships.
The debate was part of the BBC World Questions forum, which brings together policymakers, analysts and members of the public to examine political and international issues affecting countries around the world.
The full Guyana edition of the BBC World Service programme will be broadcast this Saturday, March 14.