Jagdeo
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):
President Bharrat Jagdeo has called on the United States Embassy here to justify revoking the visa of acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene.
The U.S. embassy cancelled Greene's visitor's visa last Friday, the same say he was scheduled to take over from retiring Police Commissioner, Winston Felix.
"I find the timing very strange because if there was this ongoing investigation it should have been done much earlier," Jagdeo said.
Jagdeo reminded that Greene "held some critical positions", including crime chief and acting Commissioner of Police on several occasions.
"So I find the timing very strange and I have asked the U.S. government to provide u.s. with specifics." Washington gave no details why Greene's visa had been revoked, but in the last two years, it has taken a tough stance against nationals suspected to be involved in the illegal drug trade.
Two months ago, the U.S. Embassy also cancelled Greene's diplomatic visa.
"Now if you revoked one visa, why not revoke both at the same time? If you were so concerned about his involvement, then all of his visas should have been revoked at that time ... I want answers," Jagdeo said.
In a statement over the weekend, Greene denied any involvement in the illegal drugs trade and expressed outrage that attempts were being made to "besmirch my good character".
Jagdeo said that his administration wanted evidence of Greene's involvement in illegal activities before it took any action.
NOT BASED ON RUMOURS
"We did not move against Felix based on rumours or anything else. We are not prepared to do that," Jagdeo said, challenging Washing-ton to make the evidence of its claims public or even the reason for the visa revocation, "since Greene has agreed to this".
"If we find there is evidence of wrong doing, we will remove him. If he is involved, then there must be evidence of his involvement and they should provide that to Mr. Greene and the public, share it with the Government," Jagdeo said.
The U.S. Embassy also revoked the visa of former Home Affairs Minister, Ronald Gajraj, who had been accused of involvement in extra-judicial killings. But even though a Presidential Commission of Enquiry cleared him of any wrongdoing, the U.S. government refused to lift the travel ban imposed on him.
Jagdeo said the revocation of Greene's visa would affect his credibility. "It must. It must cast a shadow because it leaves doubts in the minds of all Guyanese and they (United States) have some obligation to all of u.s. as a country to say, here are the reasons why we revoked the visa and we have provided evidence to your government and then shift it to u.s. if we don't move on it."
