Dear Mr. Editor,

COVID-19 is no joke. It is mostly a fatal disease. Therefore what could have been the reason behind Ms. Priya Manickchand’s led a protest with some people in front the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? As part of the government’s actions against the Coronavirus it has been made very clear that the gathering of crowds is not allowed.

But Ms. Manickchand and her People’s Progressive Party (PPP) confederates would obviously give no thought to risking the lives of vulnerable people just for their own gains? Obviously, the people were briefed by her, however what is most certain is the fact that these people were being fooled into believing that they were there to fight a just cause. In addition, it is alleged that the people are usually bribed with some five thousands Guyana dollars and up; a box of food and a bottle of water, to stand out there and make noise. How sad!

Humiliation of US Ambassador
Ms. Priya Manickchand as Guyana’s Acting Foreign Minister, in July 2014 on invitation to observe America’s 238th anniversary of its independence,
disregarded all diplomatic norms and launched a verbal attack on then United States Ambassador, Dr. D. Brent Hardt when it was time for her speech. The PPP’s Presidential Advisor, Gail Teixeira was also present.

Ms. Manickchand claimed that the Ambassador made, “…declarations, accusations, allegations and innuendos about the Executive President of Guyana (Bharrat Jagdeo)… As one reads his diatribe against our President, our outrage mounts at the liberties he has taken with diplomatic conventions, commitment to accuracy and sense of occasion. This situation, I report, is intolerable.

“The Ambassador has been associated with a dedicated attack on the President and the government on the holding of Local Government elections… has been supported in his ill-conceived venture, by the opposition section of the media and his colleagues in the diplomatic corps,” Manickchand stated, but did not stop there.

Ambassador Hardt then returned to the podium to proclaim, “Oh, What a sendoff!”

Reports are that the government planned Manickchand’s outburst, using her to deliver its message of defiance to the United States, while the rest of the PPP members of parliament did not attend the event, except for Ms. Manickchand and Presidential Advisor Gail Teixeira, who departed together right after the minister’s insulted speech.

So now that the PPP members, led by Ms. Manickchand are presenting themselves in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this time in defiance of the Government of Guyana and the COVID-19 orders must be for some reason. Maybe, the lady can well explain such – certainly it would not be for some reason (s) representing the interest of members of the U.S. government or other representatives.

Regards

Shawn James