Lobbying America

Mar 21, 2025 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Government has hired a lobbying firm that is owned by a lobbyist who connected to President Trump. Although the purpose of lobbying Washington is not clear, government is commended. It is among the wisest moves of President Ali and VP Jagdeo. Earlier governments, especially left wingers, did not see value in hiring lobbyists in the USA, Canada, and the UK; these countries were viewed as imperialist exploiters, even though almost every Guyanese have yearned to migrate to them, since the 1960s. Ironically, it was lobbying by Guyanese in USA, that contributed to Washington’s decision to condemn authoritarian governance in Guyana.

Unfortunately, few Guyanese, including figures in government and opposition, in the country and abroad (with some exceptions who study or read about lobbying), know how to, and the value of lobbying. Lobbying is the process (or measures taken) by an organization (or business or group of individuals, or even one person) to influence a government (US Administration and the Congress). Government is pressured, using a variety of means, into specific public policy actions that benefit the lobbyist. Lobbying can be formal (through a registered lobbyist) or informal (a group of individuals or business), approaching government for a policy that benefits them or some cause or another entity. Government tends to respond to numbers- a large organization whose members vote and can influence elections, or provide funding (such as donations for an election campaign), with the former being far more influential than the latter. Politicians always seek money but would not forsake numbers for money, because they can get voted out if they ignore numbers. Governments are known to address an interest, knowing there is a large swell of support backing it. Lobbyists bring pressure on politicians to do things to benefit the client.

Clearly, the government of Guyana cannot lobby Washington because it has no voting influence in an American election. Notably, the diaspora in America is not organized to successfully lobby Washington, although a few of us were somewhat effective in 1992 and 2020, with our resilience and persistence that Guyana must be democratized. In terms of voting numbers, Guyanese have low voter turnout. Guyanese generally have not shown much interest in voting, except in some critical Presidential elections like 2020, 2024, and 1992, among others. Guyanese are not known to be actively involved in election campaign or to make donations to politicians in order to develop influence. Guyanese in general see no merit in such political participation; that is why they are underserved. Guyanese in the USA would dig deep in their pockets to donate to political parties in Guyana (when politicians visit America), but don’t see the merit of donating to politicians in their adopted country to influence policies beneficial to them. Jewish Americans, Indian Americans, and some other powerful groups, understand the importance of active political participation, donating to campaigns. They are among the most effective lobbying groups in the USA and are increasingly becoming so in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Of course, they are wealthy groups in those countries and Guyanese are no so not well off in America, although they (Indo-Guyanese) are among the top ten income earners in the USA.

Lacking influence in Washington, the government is flush with money and can hire lobbyists. The hiring of a lobbyist in Washington was long recommended by activists (like me) to the PPP, and other parties involved in the freedom movements during the 1970s, 1990s, and later to the government or parties whenever Guyana faced serious problems like threats to democracy and from Venezuela. Guyanese groups also lobbied Washington. During the 1970s and 1990s, a group of us sought to lobby Washington without money or hiring paid lobbyists; we were broke.

It was not very successful. Money talks! Everything else walks! The Guyanese left wingers in America were approached during the period of the Guyanese dictatorship, to collaborate in hiring lobbyists but were not interested in paying American lobbyists, describing them as ‘blood sucking imperialists. Yet, they wanted Washington to help bring about free and fair elections; the country suffered for 28 years. The left wingers did not even want to support fundraisers to help Members of Congress get elected to champion Guyana’s cause.

Hundreds of thousands- or millions of dollars- were raised for political parties in Guyana, but nothing for Members of Congress or presidential candidates. Some of us (like Baytoram Ramharack, Mike Persaud, Ravi Dev, Vassan Ramracha, and myself, among others) who studied and understood the importance of lobbying, contributed to election campaigns and attended fundraisers, as we did for Jimmy Carter, Stephen Solarz, and Elliott Engel, among other others; our group didn’t see the Americans as imperialistic. Our group recognized the importance of the USA in restoring democratic governance in Guyana, and did whatever we could to lobby Washington to assist in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Guyana. Lobbying played a significant role in bringing about political change in 1992 and 2020. Lobbying probably also played a role in statements issued by the US Administration, following Venezuelan intimidation of Exxon’s production ship and the several threats issued by the Maduro regime.

Today, government has embraced what activists advised since the 1970s. Lobbying provides access to the American government. It will pay dividends, regarding Venezuela and protecting democracy. In addition to its paid lobbyist (of US$65K-plus monthly), the government should encourage the diaspora (of over a million people) in the USA to consider forming an organization to lobby the American government on Venezuelan threat, trade, immigration, and other matters. A cohesive unit is always powerful. Exxon should also be approached to fund such an outfit, given that it is the main beneficiary of American cover over Guyana.

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram

(Lobbying America)

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