PLEASE permit me to reply to the many unfavourable comments and judgment with regard to Education Minister Ms. Priya Manickchand’s presentation, e.g., Kaieteur News July 4, 2014 Editorial and in Letters from Asquith Rose and Harish Singh.Enough is enough! For too long third world countries have accepted severe criticisms from the U.S. Government or their representatives who, on being posted to countries, behave as if the country that they temporarily resides in belong to the United States of America. Well not this 83,000 square miles.

Firstly, let me deal with some of the contents of the KN Editorial which described Minister Manickchand’s utterances as the most shocking abuse of hospitality, and a disregard for the diplomatic norms. Minister Priya Manickchand is not ‘a messenger’ as quoted in the Kaieteur News; she was, in fact, deputising for Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister.
Secondly, Asquith Rose and Haresh Singh, being a constant reader of the daily and weekend print media, I am appalled at their remarks that Ms. Manickchand is not only a certified dunce at diplomacy, but at everything she says and does and the demand for her resignation as Minister of Education, as was the case of Minister Clement Rohee.
The masses of this country have often heard those insincere languages – the phantom writers have the audacity to say that only an inept Government such as the minority PPP regime does not understand how the U.S. State Department conducts its foreign policy. Who are the two ghost writers who must be seeking refugee status for themselves and family to enter the U.S. to deem a qualified Attorney-at-law a disloyal servant of Guyana?

The Speaker of the House and the AFC Chairman, who is now in the legal fraternity defending numerous drug cartels and dealers, were also quoted as saying that she (Manickchand) is a total disgrace to the nation.
Lo and behold, let me inform both of you to check the archives about the United States’ involvement on sovereign nation. The 36th President of the U.S., John F. Kennedy and the then Home Secretary of England, Duncan Sands conspired with each other to have Dr Cheddi Jagan go to London along with Forbes Burnham and his team for a meeting to wit–Proportional Representation that saw the PPP lose the elections that give rise to the PNC and 28 years of dictatorship and suffering.
Had Dr Jagan took his wife, Janet Rosenberg Jagan, a born American citizen on his team, he would have never signed an agreement to same.
(1) The border issue between Guyana and Venezuela was stirred up by Henry Kissenger, a former Secretary of State, an American Jew.
(2) The continuous war between Israel and the Palestinians was due to the fact that the Israelis were sold or given updated weaponry and the Arabs nation inferior weapons that allowed Israelis to triumph over the Arab nations during the six-year war and the land which rightfully belongs to the Palestinians. Look how much of my brothers and sisters dying for what is rightfully theirs.
(3) The invasion of Grenada. No American medical student’s life was in jeopardy. It was because of the airport that was being built by the Cubans that would have been able to accommodate large military aircraft and would have been the only one in the region.
(4) The invasion of Iraq under the pretext of searching for weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. failed to find any such weapons and left the country with unrest. It is widely believed that oil was what the U.S. was more concerned with. Last but not least Ambassador Brent Hardt was totally disrespectful to the President of Guyana, Mr. Donald Ramotar and to other Caribbean leaders when he was stationed in those respective countries. Ambassador Hardt has the temerity to indicate that his Government will go ahead with the LEAD Project despite the objections of the sovereign Government of the day. During (Forbes) Burnham and (Desmond) Hoyte’s tenure, two senior officials had earned the recall to Washington. Mr Hugh Simon, Charge de Affairs was sent home during Hoyte’s tenure.
There are a lot of lackeys who, for their cheap political mileage, would condemn Minister Manickchand. Is it that we must allow the so-called ‘world police’ – the mighty U.S. to say what they like and we must stay quiet. No, no, no!
I do hope that the women organisations would let their voices be heard. This is not about party affiliation, he crossed the line and meddling in the internal affairs of the country.
I sincerely hope that President Ramotar does not apologise to Ambassador Hardt; he should instead wish him Bon Voyage.
May Allah bless Minister Manickchand with strength and good health to keep on doing the right thing.

OMAR MOHAMED