The Substantive Argument is not About Canada, it is About Electoral Reform in Guyana

Dear Editor,

I would like to respond to Dr. Randy Persaud’s retort to a letter that I wrote in support of the Canadian High Commissioner, Sébastien Sigouin’s encouragement to Guyanese to actively engage with democratic processes in Guyana. The High Commissioner’s statement followed the European Union Electoral Observation Mission (EU EOM) report, which highlighted some significant deficiencies in Guyana’s electoral system. Dr. Randy Persaud’s letter in the Kaieteur News published on December 3, 2025, and titled ‘Has any diplomat called for the Indigenous peoples of Canada to rise up?’ is in support of Dr. Walter Persaud’s letter criticizing the High Commissioner’s call. I respect Dr. Randy Persaud ‘speaking up’ and passionately supporting Dr. Walter Persaud’s view, in which he stated ‘I agree with Dr. Walter whose main point is that HC Sébastien Sigouin comment is a product of privileged cosmopolitanism and an uneven international order, one in which developing nations can be lectured to, but in return have little or no voice. Do you think a Caribbean diplomat in Canada can make a statement in the Globe and Mail or CBC on the horrific economic, cultural, and political marginalization of the Inuit, Métis and First Nations peoples?’

Dr. Randy Persaud, however, disappointingly, took the wrong turn in this argument/debate/discussion/conversation by focusing on occurrences which, perhaps, Canada itself is not proud of, but I would like to shift this discussion to aspects of Canada that it is proud of, for e.g., it’s electoral system and processes; and that many from countries like Guyana are also proud of or at least desire enough to experience, judging by the amount of Guyanese who migrate and settle in Canada, despite Dr. Randy Persaud’s arguments in his letter. However, the substantive argument here is not about Canada it is about electoral reform in Guyana. It is about Guyanese speaking up, not only on electoral reform, but on having a better Guyana – a better system of governance, more accountability from their elected officials, a more inclusive society, more equitable approach to the allocation of resources, more equality in growth and development and an international and diplomatic community that knows that the people of Guyana expects them to play a strong role in ensuring that human rights of citizens are protected, promote fundamental freedoms for all, and  establish international standards and address violations; which includes electoral rights and freedoms. 

For us to achieve these, we would need more than passionate responses by a privileged few. We would need more humility and less arrogance from our elected officials and the willingness to return to a place where governance in Guyana is informed to a greater extent by science, data, facts, professionalism, and is rights based. Electoral reform is fundamental because it does not only determine who governs by how, particularly, in this ‘new Guyana’ experiment.  

The bottom line is, Guyana is desperately in need of electoral reform. So instead of targeting the messenger Dr. Randy Persaud, let’s focus on the message which is electoral reform. I look forward to Dr. Randy Persaud informing us of when a committee, team or other will be set up to review the reports from the 2025 General and Regional Elections and take the necessary actions.

Sincerely,

Citizen Audreyanna Thomas