The hypocrisy of selective sovereignty

Jan 21, 2026 Letters

Dear Editor,

The recent missive (“Diplomacy as Liability,” Jan 20) is a masterful exercise in the very “personal posturing” the author claims to despise. By painting High Commissioner Sébastien Sigouin’s calls for democratic transparency as a “reckless error,” the writer reveals a troubling worldview: that Guyana should be eager for Canadian capital but allergic to Canadian values.

The “ATM” Model of Diplomacy

The author’s argument rests on a cynical premise: that a diplomat’s only role is to be a silent cheerleader for his country’s commercial interests. This “ATM diplomacy” suggests we should take the aid, take the mining technology, and take the investment, but tell the envoy to look the other way when democratic norms are flouted. One must ask: why is it that when Canada provides millions in development assistance or technical training, it’s called “partnership,” but when Canada asks for electoral transparency, it’s called “interference”? You cannot have the benefit of the handshake without the burden of the conversation.

Investor Confidence is Not a “Safe Space” for Secrecy

The writer claims Sigouin is hurting investors. On the contrary, nothing terrifies a board of directors in Vancouver or Toronto more than a “quiet” environment where the rules of the game are written in pencil. Canadian companies like G Mining and CGX Energy rely on the Rule of Law. If elections are opaque or parliamentary leadership is in question, the “predictability” the author craves vanishes. A High Commissioner who advocates for a functioning democracy is not a liability; he is the ultimate “risk insurance” for Canadian shareholders. He is ensuring the ground stays level so that Canadian companies don’t fall into the cracks of institutional decay.

The Sovereignty Strawman

The author’s invocation of sovereignty rings hollow, especially when they cite the extradition of the Mohameds to the United States. If the writer is comfortable with a foreign superpower acting as a judicial “hatchet—man” for crimes committed on and that should arguably be prosecuted on home soil, their outrage at a Canadian envoy’s tweet about “electoral reform” is laughable. It seems “sovereignty” is only invoked when it’s convenient to shield domestic governance from the sunlight of scrutiny.

The Bottom Line

Guyana is indeed a dynamic, world-class economy. But world-class economies require world-class institutions. You cannot invite the world’s most sophisticated mining and energy giants to your shores and then demand their governments remain silent about the very democratic structures that protect those investments. If we want to be treated as a mature global player, we must stop acting like a sensitive student in a “classroom” and start acting like a partner that welcomes accountability. High Commissioner Sigouin isn’t “meddling”—he’s doing his job. He is signaling that Canada’s relationship with Guyana is built on more than just gold and oil; it is built on a shared commitment to the democratic principles that make business possible in the first place. When external partners find themselves reminding an oil‑rich state to perform the ABCs of parliamentary democracy, it is a sign that erosion has moved beyond the subtle and into the openly embarrassing.

Respectfully,

Hemdutt Kumar

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Canadian values, Hemdutt Kumar, hypocrisy, Letters, Sébastien Sigouin, sovereignty

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