Dear Editor,
THE U.S. Ambassador to Guyana must really underestimate the intelligence of the Guyanese people, or maybe we are part of the pack of sh..hole countries that her master referred to. What else would empower her to issue the ridiculous press statement justifying her intrusive behaviour that flew in the face of all diplomatic norms. Of course, the media that are on the warpath against the APNU+AFC had a field day with the goodly ambassador’s words. I will point to two statements Madam Ambassador made that makes absolutely no sense and points to their duplicity and inconsistent moral behaviour.
To quote the ambassador directly, she states, “The international extension of these principles is present in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. Article 21 underscores that, “Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.” It makes clear that the “will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government.” Then please explain Madam Ambassador why the United States’ closest ally in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has never had an election, and denies basic human rights to a major section of its population– women? Why was this principle not adopted in the 1992 and 1997 electoral processes when there were gross violations of democratic norms? Please explain why the United States isn’t applying sanctions to Saudi Arabia who is bombing innocent women and children in Yemen so that they can get the government they want into power? Why in 1994 did the United States support the rebels that ousted the popularly elected President of Haiti Jean Bertrand Aristide who was the popularly elected President of Haiti? Closer to home, Madam Ambassador, please explain how the Guyana elections and the judicial process in Guyana are in conflict with the norms of democratic values? I made these points and highlighted examples to underscore the point that economic interests drive your actions under the guise of so-called democratic principles and values. The contradiction of your own actions and statements cause the fair-minded observer to question your own credibility.
The ambassador justifies their interference by pointing to the fact that Guyana joined the Lima group in condemning Nicolas Maduro as an illegitimate leader of Venezuela. Guyana’s action went against CARICOM and the United Nations charter of non-interference and non-intervention in the affairs of sovereign nations. Guyana’s foreign policy action was wrong as is yours’s right now. No country should try to intimidate independent institutions of a sovereign state the way you want to dictate how our elections should be managed. The only true point you made was that Guyana is no Venezuela. Venezuela’s election was boycotted by the opposition, the process controlled by the government and was not subject to multiple layers of judicial review. Guyana’s election was as open and transparent as they come.
So, Madam Ambassador, you do not need to use those false platitudes to justify your ludicrous behaviour; after all, you have the power of guns, bombs, and devastating economic sanctions, and Guyana is just another sh..hole country.
Yours truly,
Jerrick Rutherford
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_e-paper_4-5-2020