Reply to "Charrandass Persaud axed by Pres. Ali over obscene outburst in India"

Kaieteur News – Charrandass Persaud continues to function as Guyana’s High Commissioner to India weeks after he was said to have been recalled by President Irfaan Ali.

Persaud’s recall was triggered by an embarrassing video recording which showed him verbally abusing an animal rights activist in front of his New Delhi residence in India. After the video began circulating locally, President Ali said that Persaud had agreed to return to Guyana.

However, based on documented proof, Persaud is still functioning as High Commissioner. In fact, the Alliance For Change (AFC) in a statement Thursday said it has confirmed that despite the contents in an abhorrent and disgusting video that recently circulated of Persaud insulting an Indian citizen in vilest terms, he continues to function as Guyana’s High Commission to India.

Charrandass Persaud in his capacity as High Commissioner to India was invited as a honoured  guest at the India Economic Trade Organisation’s (IETO) reception on Friday

“The AFC received reports of this, and was able to confirm, that Persaud is scheduled to be a “guest of honour” at the India Economic Trade Organisation’s (IETO) reception on Friday, November 25, 2022. The IETO is an official organ of the Government of India,” AFC said.

Further, according to the AFC information in hand is that both the Minister of Foreign Affairs and President Ali are aware of, and approved Persaud’s continued functioning, and attendance at this state function. A News Source article quoted President Ali as saying that the process of Persaud’s recall has already started and he is clearing up, to hand over and return home.

Meanwhile, the AFC said it has communicated with the host to bring to his attention the disgrace the presence of Charrandass Persaud at the event can cause. The host from all appearances was unaware, the AFC said. “All right-thinking Guyanese were embarrassed and insulted by Persaud’s behaviour and were relieved that he was being “recalled”. This, we were all led to believe, was with immediate effect. Apparently, and most unfortunately, the nation was hoodwinked, to put it mildly, once again, by a callous, insensitive and dishonorable regime. After all, Charrandass Persaud’s behaviour now seems to have been embraced by the PPP, or could it have been a case of his mimicking theirs?

Persaud, the man who had voted to bring down the Coalition Government back in 2018 was last year August recorded on camera verbally abusing the woman, Ms. Sonia Ghosh. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had initially said that the matter was closed as the allegations have not been substantiated. The statement back in October said the ministry was aware of material circulating on social media relating to allegations made against Persaud, regarding an incident which occurred on August 1, 2021 on the premises of the High Commissioner’s residence. “This matter, brought to the attention of the Ministry of External Affairs of India by High Commissioner Persaud, was fully investigated by the relevant authorities and a formal response to the High Commission dated September 3, 2022 indicates that, “allegations of sexual abusive words to complainant has [sic] not been substantiated”.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation therefore considers this matter closed.”  However, in a video currently making the rounds on Social Media, the High Commissioner can be clearly heard speaking in very coarse language to a woman saying: “I don’t need a dog in my yard alright. You want the dog, take it and put it between your legs…you probably want the dog to F#@% you…that’s what you want. I don’t care… I don’t care who you are. F#@% you!”

However, later in a televised address President Ali after reviewing the video, he called Persaud. During their conversation, Persaud, the President had said related to him that this is an incident that occurred sometime in August last year and the video is not a full reflection of what took place, for a matter of fact, he informed me that the video was not complete in demonstrating exactly what took place.”

Charrandass Persaud

President Ali said notwithstanding this, he explained to Mr. Persaud that, “representatives of our country must, on all occasions and every occasion, conduct themselves in the highest order and regard. Mr. Charrandass then communicated to me that this matter was dealt with by the relevant agencies and authorities in India, and that there was no evidence of any misconduct, and for a matter of fact, he was clear of any accusation of sexual harassment,” Ali stated. He said Persaud also shared with him the letter that substantiated this statement. “Notwithstanding all of this, Mr. Charrandass has agreed with me that in keeping with the best interest of Guyana, and the image of Guyana, that he would return home from his posting in India.”

“I want to assure all Guyanese that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of India continue to work every day to strengthen our relationships, the relationship not only with India, but with every other partner across the globe. Mr. Charrandass has agreed that he takes full responsibility for his actions and will return home from this posting. As I would have said, we are therefore going to take all official steps and measures to ensure a smooth transition and to continue to strengthen our work with India and to work on advancing the cause of Guyana, in every capital,” President Ali concluded.

Persaud was accredited back in March 2021 by Ram Nath Kovind, then President of India. At the accreditation ceremony, President Kovind said India enjoys warm and friendly relations with the countries as their ties are deeply rooted in a common vision of peace and prosperity. The President also extended his gratitude to the countries for supporting India’s candidature for the non-permanent seat of UN Security Council for the term 2021-22. Additionally, the President said India has been at the forefront of global efforts to forge a decisive and coordinated response to COVID-19. He said under the Government’s Vaccine Maitri Initiative, highly affordable vaccines made in India and have already been distributed to several countries worldwide. To this end, the Ambassadors and High Commissioners expressed gratitude to India for supplying their countries with quantities of the vaccine. To date, Guyana has received from India a donation of 80,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine COVISHIELD, which were made in India. India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Guyana after it gained independence on May 26, 1966.