U.S. Police Role in Elections Raises Sovereignty Concerns, Says Retired Diplomat

A retired senior Guyanese diplomat has warned that the deployment of United States (U.S) police advisors ahead of Guyana’s General and Regional Elections on September 1 poses a serious risk to the country’s sovereignty and democratic integrity.

In an interview with Village Voice News, the former diplomat challenged the claim by U.S. Ambassador Nicole Theriot—made on Wednesday, July 9—that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had “requested” election-related support from the United States.

“That explanation is disingenuous,” the diplomat said. “The Guyana Police Force is not a sovereign entity. It is an agency of the Government of Guyana and comes under the direction of the Executive branch. Any such request had to be made, or at least approved, by the President himself.”

He continued, “President Irfaan Ali either made the request directly or accepted the United States’ offer of support, in keeping with their strategic interest in Guyana’s oil sector. Either way, it is clear the PPP government is prepared to compromise national sovereignty if it means staying in control of the levers of power, especially control over the country’s oil wealth and how it is distributed.”

The Ambassador’s announcement that U.S. officers would help train and advise the GPF, just weeks before a national election, has stirred strong reactions from civil society, political observers, and members of the diplomatic community. While Theriot framed the assistance as “technical support” to ensure election security, the diplomat dismissed it as “thinly veiled political interference.”

“This is not about law enforcement training. This is about managing the political space during a volatile election period. You don’t fly in foreign police advisors at this stage unless you intend for them to play an active, supervisory role,” he argued. “It’s the same pattern we’ve seen in foreign military conflicts; advisors embedded to ‘support,’ but in reality, directing operations on the ground.”

While he acknowledged Guyana’s need for U.S. support in defending its territorial integrity against Venezuelan claims to the Essequibo region, he warned that strategic alliances must not come at the cost of internal autonomy.

“Yes, we need the United States. But the United States also needs Guyana. This is not charityit’s mutual interest. And as a sovereign nation-state, we must not confuse support with subservience,” he told Village Voice News. “We are seeing the quiet erosion of sovereignty, disguised as cooperation.”

The Ambassador also announced that the U.S. will fund two-thirds of the Organisation of American States (OAS) election observer mission and will coordinate closely with the Carter Center, European Union, and domestic groups. But the retired diplomat argued that such expansive involvement raises ethical concerns.

“If foreign powers are paying for the observers, advising the elections commission, and now embedding police advisors, the lines of impartiality become dangerously blurred.”

He said the PPP administration appears to be enabling this interference to tighten its grip on political power. “There is a pattern of democratic erosion and institutional manipulation. The government is not interested in genuine reform; it is interested in domination.”

He also questioned why such “support” from the U.S. was not offered or requested during periods when the GPF faced widespread criticism over misconduct and alleged extrajudicial killings.

“If this was about improving professionalism and accountability, why didn’t we see this assistance years ago? Why now, in the heat of an election campaign?”

Drawing parallels with past interventions in countries under the pretext of advisory roles, he added, “We’ve seen this before. Once advisors are embedded, their influence expands, and soon they’re directing operational decisions. This is how sovereignty slips away, not all at once, but incrementally.”

He concluded with a sobering warning: “The PPP government is trading Guyana’s independence for political security. It is a dangerous bargain. Sovereignty is not a slogan; it is a responsibility. And it is being quietly dismantled under our noses.”