…Min. Greenidge says duty-bound to seek clarifications

A SECOND meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge and Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee as Guyana seeks an explanation over the commission’s involvement in the spiriting away of former MP Charrandass Persaud after he voted in support of a no- confidence motion against the government.

In a statement on Friday, the ministry confirmed that it has formally approached the Canadian High Commission in Georgetown seeking an explanation regarding certain breaches of protocol. “In keeping with normal diplomatic procedures, a Note was dispatched on Monday January 7 to the High Commission and meetings were subsequently held on Wednesday, January 9 and today [Friday] with the High Commissioner,” the ministry said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is duty-bound to seek clarification on reports of breaches of diplomatic protocol by a foreign mission. “This process is ongoing and the ministry is working with the Canadian High Commission to ensure that the matter reaches a satisfactory conclusion.”

THE Government of Guyana has expressed “profound disquiet” at what it believes is the violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic and Consular relations by the High Commission of Canada for the role it played in escorting defector, former Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Charrandass Persaud out of the country after he voted with the opposition to bring down the David Granger administration last December.
The Note dispatched to the Canadian High Commission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, parts of which were seen by this newspaper, expressed the government’s grave concern over the situation. On December 21 last, the former AFC MP had opted to vote with the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to oust the current government. Hours after, the former MP was on a plane to Canada.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry contended in the letter that “several acts and omissions” by Beliveau were brought to their attention. The ministry said that it was in receipt of “credible” information that on the morning following the vote, Charrandass was escorted to the Eugene F. Correia Airport by the Canadian official and Ramsaroop, and “… under heavy security by known criminal elements in Guyana.” The Guyana Chronicle was told that confessed “Death Squad” hitman, Sean Hinds and PPP strongman Jason Abdulla were among those who provided security for Persaud.

Regarding the protocol pass at the airport, the foreign affairs office said that the Canadian official used his identification card which the ministry issues, to secure the pass. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is unaware of any consular function which Mr. Beliveau was performing on the date and time in question,” their correspondence said. The ministry also pointed out that it was unaware of any threat to Persaud that would have even required consular protection.

Members of the diplomatic missions, if they have official business to do at the airport, they will be issued with diplomatic IDs, but if they have specific official business at the airport, they have to get a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the minister stated. In the letter, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the Canadian High Commission is fully aware of protocols to be observed in a sovereign state and thus viewed the behaviour of the Canadian diplomat and by extension its office, as a “unilateral act” deliberately violating international regulations.