American and British Diplomats dismiss Jagdeo’s claim of interference as laughable misrepresentation

At least two Western Diplomats in Guyana have responded with consternation to claims by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo that the new government is allowing itself to take instructions from foreign representatives in managing the affairs of Guyana.

The Opposition Leader, at a Tuesday press conference said

“foreign representatives from where-ever seem to be instructing the government on what to do on a daily basis and they comply.”

However, his comments are not sitting well

with several foreign diplomats in Guyana.

In an invited comment on Wednesday,

ChargÉ d’Affaires of the U.S Embassy in Georgetown,

Bryan Hunt brushed aside such claims and

said it was not only a misrepresentation of the U.S engagement

with the government but is also far from the truth.

“I don’t believe anyone who knows [President] David Granger

or [Prime Minister] Nagamootoo would believe

they would take instructions from anyone

much less a career diplomat likes myself,” Hunt said.

He explained that there are in fact

certain areas of policy difference that exist

but said his role as a diplomat

is to engage with the government

and find areas of commonalities and support those areas.

According to Hunt, the U.S Embassy in Georgetown

still intends to hold the government

to account on areas that they differ.

“I think the Leader of the Opposition, with due respect,

misrepresents what is the state of affairs.

The APNU+AFC has been clear on its policy position

and have worked to advance that position…

they are very much their own men or women

and do not take instructions from any diplomats,” he added.

The U.S ChargÉ d’Affaires was supported in his contention

by British High Commissioner to Guyana Greg Quinn.

“The idea that foreign diplomats are instructing the government

is not true and is in fact laughable…

the government very clearly does what it wants to do,

we have never

instructed them in any way or form,” Quinn added.

He said the beauty about democracy

is that the Opposition Leader

has a right to voice his opinion.

On a separate note,

Hunt said he was recently reviewing

the list of commitments made by the government

for the first 100 days

and believes that by any measure

they have done “quite well.”

“They have managed to organize

most of the stakeholder meetings they have promised

and managed to make progress

on several key pieces of legislation…

I think we are well advanced

towards planning for local government elections,” Hunt added.

He said outside of the list of promises,

the government has demonstrated

through its budget and other work

a desire to inject a level of transparency

and accountability into the management

of the state and state resources.

The British High Commissioner recently told News Source

that his personal belief is that the government

has done extremely well

over the last three months in office.

(Kurt Campbell)