US Ambassador was expressing universal views

Jul 06, 2014 News

Manickchand’s incident was “vulgar and crass” – Granger

Leader of the parliamentary Opposition, Brig. David Granger, has deemed the incident in which Acting Foreign Affairs

Opposition Leader, David Granger

Minister, Priya Manickchand lashed out at the outgoing US Ambassador during a July 4 Independence reception, as “vulgar and crass.”
Prior to the “unprecedented send off” on Wednesday last for Ambassador Brent Hardt, he had made comments supporting the call for Local Government Elections in Guyana and had also said that President Donald Ramotar is an inconsistent defender of the Constitution.
The government subsequently issued a statement which chided the Ambassador for meddling in the internal affairs of the country.
When asked to what extent he would say the envoy’s comments amounted to some degree of meddling, Granger said, “I do not see things that way. There are two issues here, the first one being whether he did in fact say or do things that were in contravention of normal diplomatic practice.
“I do not think so because the views he expressed were not only those of the State department and his government, they are universal views.
“Specifically, Local Government election is a constitutional requirement and everyone in Guyana except the government wants these elections. It is normal for a democratic country to have Local Government elections. It is abnormal and undemocratic not to do so. I think the response of persons at the reception indicated that there was support for the Ambassador’s position.”
He added, “The second issue is of course the nature of international relations. In my entire life I have never come across such

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand

a crass and vulgar incident which occurred that night. You don’t conduct international relations like that and use such a forum for that purpose.
“It is counterproductive; it is not going to improve our reality…we have been beneficiaries of some assistance from the USA and I am not saying because of that we should keep our mouths closed but I am saying that there are diplomatic channels that could have been used. What occurred was just vulgar.”
The Minister was roundly booed by the invitees during her presentation at a reception held at the Ambassador’s residence in observance of America’s 238th anniversary of its independence.
During his weekly press conference, Dr. Roger Luncheon, Cabinet Secretary, came out in defence of the style and line of verbal attack on the outgoing envoy. He said that it was Cabinet that prepared the speech and that the event was considered ideal since Ambassador Hardt was leaving Guyana today.