Explosive US cable on WikiLeaks reveals…Jagdeo pushed US to revoke Greene’s visa

Sep 03, 2011 News

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An explosive US Embassy cable released by whistle-blower website, WikiLeaks, has essentially linked Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, to the drug trade and said he broke into tears when he learnt his visa had been revoked, back in 2006.
The cable sent to the Department of Justice in July 2006 by Michael Thomas, Charge d’Affaires of the Georgetown US Embassy, also said that the insistence of the Guyana government to appoint Greene despite being warned revealed a stubborn streak in President Bharrat Jagdeo.
The subject of the classified cable was “GOG (Government of Guyana) pick crooked police chief despite revoked visa”
Thomas, in the cable, also opined that the appointment of Greene would bring critical international assistance to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to a halt.

“This issue reveals a real stubborn streak in Jagdeo — he is doggedly sticking with Greene, knowing that he is corrupt and incompetent – that doing so strains Guyana’s security situation and its foreign relations, and imperils GPF operational efficiency.”
Days before government appointed the Commissioner, Thomas met with President Jagdeo to convey Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)-provided language regarding Henry Greene’s alleged ties to narco-traffickers.
Three other major embassies were also heavily concerned and representatives of their missions accompanied the US Charge d’Affaires to a meeting with Jagdeo, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon and Foreign Minister, Rudy Insanally.
These included the UK, Canada and the European Union Chiefs of Mission.
During that crucial meeting, it was clear to the foreign officials that the Guyana government had already committed to naming Greene as the Top Cop and was not readily inclined to back down.
UNHAPPY JAGDEO
The Charge d’Affaires, according to the cable “repeated for Jagdeo’s benefit what Ambassador Bullen had told Luncheon July 12 (2006)– that Greene’s name has appeared repeatedly in reports from various USG (United States Government) agencies — and that as Ambassador had promised, we had sought authorization from U.S. law enforcement agencies to pass on some of that information.”
President Jagdeo, according to the cable, reacted badly.
“He complained in strong terms that the USG “never” shares intelligence information and had not said anything before about having concerns with Greene. He went so far as to tell Luncheon to stop all GoG intelligence sharing with the Embassy.”
Jagdeo reportedly admitted that it would be difficult to refuse to appoint Greene since the announcement had already been made. It was made clear that if the U.S. were to take some action, like revoking Greene’s visa, it could provide the GoG the needed cover to reconsider the decision.
Two days after that meeting, the US Consul revoked Greene’s previously-issued B-1/B-2 visa based on the DEA information.
GREENE’S TEARS
“Greene broke into tears when informed of this, fearing the embarrassment the revocation will cause, and denied involvement with drug trafficking. He expressed surprise that the revocation was not due to his “troubling the girls”.
The cable noted that the allegations of rape have dogged Greene throughout his career.
“Insiders tell us that the victims include at least five policewomen. Greene uses his rank to intimidate victims into not speaking out, but his behavior is widely known within the police force.”
Despite the visa revocation, the Guyana government insisted that the US had withheld compromising information about Greene’s alleged “drug ties’ and made it clear that Guyana would move ahead with plans to elevate Greene to Acting Commissioner.
The US tried in last-ditch attempts to convince government that appointing Greene was not advisable.
The Charge d’Affaires on July 22nd, 2006, met with Luncheon who “appeared uncomfortable and defensive talking about Greene. He accused the U.S. of essentially wanting a veto over Guyana’s police and army chiefs. He lamented that the Office of the President does not have hard evidence of Greene’s wrongdoings, reiterating that the GoG (Government of Guyana) cannot act on the basis of rumor. The idea that the USG has better information on GoG officials than he does clearly gets under Luncheon’s skin. He tried to dismiss Greene’s tarnished reputation, saying that all senior GoG officials have skeletons in the closet.”
DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE
The US Embassy in its analysis of Greene’s new position felt that will have consequences on foreign assistance involving the GPF.
“UK High Commissioner Fraser Wheeler spoke with Jagdeo three times between July 21 and 24, 2006, to convey Her Majesty’s Government’s concerns about Greene’s elevation.
Wheeler told Jagdeo that he had an offer to provide the GPF with pre-election security training, but cannot go ahead if Greene is top cop. Jagdeo replied that he is under intense political pressure to stick with Greene.”
“The source of this pressure is unclear. In fact, Post (the Embassy) has yet to hear anyone defend Greene as a qualified, deserving candidate for the Commissioner job. The Canadian High Commissioner also told Charge that his government will cease all cooperation with the police if the Greene appointment goes through.”
The US Embassy in the cable was harsh in its description of the Cabinet of government ministers.
“At times, Jagdeo comes across as a practical, level-headed leader — meaning well but hampered by a cabinet full of old party cronies. At other times, however, Jagdeo seems enamored by the image of Guyana as victim — a poor, little country pushed around by the rich powers. In such instances, he lashes out at diplomatic pressure and makes decisions like this one that are, frankly, bad for Guyana.”

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