Opposition calls for sacking of Charrandas

Oct 26, 2022 News --- Source --- https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...cking-of-charrandas/

…as condemnation grows over his ‘vile attack’ on Indian woman

Kaieteur News – The main Opposition Parties on Monday flayed Guyana’s High Commissioner to India, Charrandas Persaud, for his “vile” attack on a woman in India last year and has called on the Irfaan Ali administration to immediately recall the envoy and sack him.

“By now, Guyanese have seen a video clip circulating on social media showing Guyana’s High Commissioner to India, Charrandas Persaud, hurling vile remarks towards a female, at a location in India. The content of that video ought to fill all Guyanese with outrage and disgust,” Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Amanza Walton-Desir said in a statement.

Guyana’s High Commissioner to India, Charandas Persaud

“Even more outrageous and disgusting however, is the response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on this matter,” Walton-Desir added. In the face of the video recording where Persaud was overheard using expletives and sexual degrading words towards the woman, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the matter was closed and that following a full investigation 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”

However, Walton-Desir said the process through which the Ministry purports to bring finality to the incident is woefully inadequate, disrespectful, and does not satisfy the most basic standards of accountability to the people of Guyana. “In that short clip, Mr. Persaud smashed and dashed several principles connected to our treaty obligations as it relates to the treatment of women, diplomatic etiquette and of plain general decency. Our Foreign Service personnel walk in the footsteps of the likes of Sir Sridath Ramphal and the late Rashleigh Jackson, who are regarded the world over, as diplomats par exellence. It is therefore galling that we have plummeted to the depths of Persaud’s most reprehensible behaviour. The Ministry’s response makes it clear that such conduct is acceptable. It is not!”  “We cannot purport to present ourselves in the community of nations as any country of consequence, with Mr. Persaud being in the ranks of our foreign service.  The Government of Government must immediately recall Charrandas Persaud to save whatever modicum of respect for our diplomacy and foreign representation which might remain,” the Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister concluded.

Vulgar display

Meanwhile, for its part, Persaud’s former Party- the Alliance For Change called on the Government to recall him from his post.“A short video has gone viral. In the video a male individual is heard ranting in a most vulgar display of ignorance and arrogance against a most mild-mannered woman. It is believed that the male in the video may be Guyana’s High Commissioner to India, Charrandas Persaud.”

The AFC the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a statement confirming that the incident took place at the High Commissioner’s residence in India. “India has been a close ally and friend to Guyana even prior to our independence in 1966. Since then India has rendered assistance to our development in various forms ranging from scholarships to their universities, Indian medical professionals who have served in this country, cultural exchanges and financial packages favourable to Guyana are but of the assistance provided to Guyana over the years.”

The Alliance For Change disassociated itself from Persaud who holds office as representative of our nation and urges his recall. “This would save us a diplomatic embarrassment and forcing a friendly and ally nation to label the Diplomat, “persona non grata”. There is also circulating on social media a report alleging criminal conduct perpetrated by Charrandas Persaud. In the social media post which is believed to be based on a police report, a woman accuses the diplomat of sexual harassment and outraging and insulting her modesty. In the seeming complaint the diplomat is named and address given. The complainant is said to be in her 60s and an animal rights activists who feeds over 200 stray dogs daily including a dog owned by the Diplomat. The abuse is said to have occurred on one of her good Samaritan daily rounds.”

The AFC said while noting the Vienna Convention to which both Guyana and India are signatories, the complaint notes that the behaviour displayed by the Diplomat is not immune from prosecution under various sections of India’s Penal Code and carries terms of imprisonment and/or fine.

According to the statement from Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the matter was investigated, and a report sent to the Guyana High Commission. However, the AFC said while most of our Diplomats serve with distinction, there are a few political appointees who bring nothing but disgrace to our country. “Charrandas Persaud should be recalled immediately on grounds of conduct unbecoming of an Ambassador and an apology issued to the Government and people of India,” the AFC release stated.

No confidence vote

Persaud gained notoriety back in 2018 when he stunned the nation by voting to bring down the then APNU+AFC Coalition Government. He was appointed High Commissioner to India after the PPP/C’s victory at the March 2020 polls. 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.

President Ali did the right thing. Errol chose to go down low.

Where is the video?

SHAMEFUL! This disgraceful behavior from an Ambassador? Obviously, power has gone to his head. I never trusted this two-faced dog. Let's see what happens to him in Guyana now. PNC top brass must be laughing like crazy. Hope PNC don't massacre him.

He should be expelled out of India. The Govt should investigate this. And a formal apology to the Govt of India from the Govt of Guyana is needed.

Maybe PPP set him up. Let's see who replaces him now.

@Former Member posted:

Maybe PPP set him up. Let's see who replaces him now.

I see dem boyz calling him CharanJudass.

Maybe, he had some bad news at the time. He sounded very disturbed. I doan tink he will even return to Guyana. Toronto folks brace alyuh selves for his presence. Sad for him, he has an anger problem. A few years ago they loved him, now dey will hang him.

Guyanese doan care much for dogs, however, the ambassador cursing up the lady is nah rite. I have a feeling she tried to ask him to allow dogs in his yard. Adopt some of the animals. However, Persuad sounds like the other Persaud of age old PPP, thinking of themselves as gods over the impoverished. The man sounded pompous in the ladys country.

Diplomatic matters do not get discussed in the public. SN should know better.

There are thousands more like him in Guyana.

Many proposals made for Charrandas’ replacement – Pres. Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Charandass Persaud

Days after President Irfaan Ali announced that Guyana’s High Commissioner to India Charrandas Persaud will be recalled from his post in India, the Head of State said Friday that he has received many proposals for his replacement.

“What I can tell you, I am having a lot of interest being sent to me,” President Ali told reporters at the sidelines of an event at the Georgetown Club.

Persaud was caught on video verbally abusing an Indian woman, in clear contradiction to the rules that govern the conduct of Guyana’s diplomats. Though the video only surfaced on Tuesday, the incident occurred on August 1, 2021.

President Ali was asked on Friday if he felt “misled” by Persaud and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which said initially that the case was closed before the video evidence was released.

“No one misled me, absolutely no one misled me. I have made a statement and I have done what was the right thing to do and at the end of the day the integrity of Guyana and the best representation of Guyana is what matters to me,” President Ali responded.

He explained that while Persaud was cleared by the Indian authorities, his conduct was not in keeping with what is expected of Guyanese diplomats.

Dr. Ali reasoned that even though Persaud explained that the short video did not capture the full scale of what happened, his behaviour was still unacceptable.

The Foreign Ministry in a statement noted that through communication on September 3, 2021, from the Indian authorities, the complaint by the woman of “sexually abusive words” had “not been substantiated.”

However, in the video, it was clear that Persaud used obscene language. He said: “If you want the dog, take it and put it between your legs…you probably want the dog f%$k you”.

According to reports, the woman was inquiring about a lost dog in the area.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs memo on the duties and responsibilities to Guyana’s heads of missions overseas dictates that they “demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity, deportment, efficiency and diplomatic refinement in all conduct to maintain and accentuate standing and influence”.

@kp posted:

President Ali did the right thing. Errol chose to go down low.

Charanrass went down low?  How low? Thought that he suggested the dog for that position.

Charandass not touching the Indian woman he left that to Totaram

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.

“False” that Charandass Persaud still High Commissioner to India- Foreign Ministry official

Posted by: Denis Chabrol in News, Politics Wednesday, 23 November 2022, 17:38 0 Comments --- Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 November 2022, 17:38 by Denis Chabrol --- Source --- https://demerarawaves.com/2022...n-ministry-official/

The Alliance For Change (AFC) on Wednesday claimed that Mr Charandass Persaud was still functioning as Guyana’s High Commissioner to India although he was recalled earlier this month when a video surfaced of him verbally abusing a prominent Indian animal rights activist at his official residence in India, but a Foreign Ministry official denied that he was still performing the duties of envoy.

“Totally false,” a Foreign Ministry official told Demerara Waves on condition of anonymity. The AFC earlier Wednesday released a statement and a purported invitation by Dr Asif Iqbal, President of the government-run Indian Economic Trade Organisation (IETO),  to a Latin American Ambassadors reception on  November 25. Mr Persaud is listed as one four guests of honour alongside the envoys of Jamaica, Cuba, and Trinidad and Tobago.

But the Foreign Ministry source said that Mr Persaud was unaware of that invitation and is making arrangements to leave India. “I don’t know where the AFC got that from. I don’t know if they printed something and haven’t sent it out but it hasn’t reached him as yet,” he said.

The source said Mr Persaud is required to “stay on track with what we have decided on”- that is for him to leave that diplomatic post. “His disengaged and obviously he is not active,” the official said, adding that Mr. Persaud has already been formally informed of the decision.

The AFC claimed that Mr Persaud was slated to attend the event with the full knowledge of President Irfaan Ali and Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd. “Further, information in hand is that both the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President himself are aware of, and approved Persaud’s continued functioning, and attendance at this state function,” that party said.

The AFC said it contacted the host, Dr Iqbal, to bring to his attention the “disgrace” the presence of Mr. Persaud at the event can cause.

Stressing that it believed that Mr Persaud was still performing the duties of High Commissioner, the AFC accused the “callous, insensitive and dishonorable regime” of hoodwinking Guyanese. “After all, Charandass Persaud’s behaviour now seems to have been embraced by the PPP, or could it have been a case of his mimicking theirs,” the AFC added.

Mr Persaud was seen and heard in the video verbally abusing a woman who was enquiring about a specific dog that she usually feeds but was told that the man had chased away. “I don’t need a dog in my yard alright. You want a dog? Take it and out between your leg. You probably want the dog to …. you. That’s what you want. I don’t care who the hell you are. F… you,” the man said.

The man then turned to a man and cautioned him against allowing any woman entering his yard bef0re  he suggested to the person who was video recording the altercati0n that “you like your camera?”.

But a police reply to the woman’s complaint revealed that that three other persons denied that the Indian High Commissioner ever committed such an offence. “During the enquiry, three persons…were examined who denied the allegations of complainant,: the document states. “So in these circumstances, allegations of sexual abusive words to complainant have also not been substantiated,” the report states.

https://demerarawaves.com/2022...-on-gender-equality/

Charrandass Persaud publicly apologises to India, Guyana for abusing animal rights activist; justifies action based on gender equality

What a slimeball! The Indians were probably wondering how this thug got a diplomatic job to their country. Dr. Odeen Ishmael must be turning over in his grave at these imbeciles getting ambassador jobs; Jagdeo and his thug party should study the man and emulate him.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charrandas_Persaud

Not a flattering entry about him. Last paragraph says his driver killed the dog.

So what is Charandas up to deeze days?

Irfon Ali https://demerarawaves.com/2022...-on-gender-equality/ Charrandass Persaud publicly apologises to India, Guyana for abusing animal rights activist; justifies action based on gender equality What a slimeball! The Indians were probably wondering how this thug got a diplomatic job to their country. Dr. Odeen Ishmael must be turning over in his grave at these imbeciles getting ambassador jobs; Jagdeo and his thug party should study the man and emulate him.

emulate? or eliminate?