President’s birthday marred by US sanctions; Gov’t regrets decision, US says it’s not interference
Incumbent President: David Granger
President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces David Granger today received a gift that that one expects to be coming their way especially when the day it arrives is the day they are celebrating a birth anniversary. The gift… sanctions from the United States of America.
On Wednesday the US State Department on Wednesday interfered with the celebratory mood of the president when it announced visa restriction on several government officials and other persons who it believes is complicit in undermining the democracy in Guyana. The visa sanctions were announced on July 15, 2020, the same day the country’s incumbent head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces celebrates his 75th Birth Anniversary.
The United States Embassy in a statement attributed to Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo said that the action is not interference but rather to send a clear message of the consequences of subverting democracy and the rule of law which poses a danger to us and our hemispheric partners.
“This action is not about interference. It is to send a clear message of the consequences of subverting democracy and the rule of law, which poses a danger to us and our hemispheric partners. We have long said that we have no preference for a winning party, as long as it is selected through a free and fair electoral process that is credible.” The Secretary of State noted
In a quick response to the announcement of sanctions, the Government of Guyana said it regrets the decision by the US Department of State noting that the matter is still before the courts and that is affecting the outcome of the elections.
“The Executive Branch has not participated in the undermining of the electrical process and urges all counties interested in Guyana’s development to await the logical conclusion of the process which is being managed by the Elections Commission, in accordance with the constitution of Guyana” The government noted in its statement.
“Today, I am announcing visa restrictions on individuals who have been responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Guyana. Immediate family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions. In my public statements since the election, I have been very clear that the United States stands with the Guyanese people and that there would be consequences for individuals who seek to undermine democracy. The events following the March 2 elections indicate that there are forces that have repeatedly refused to accept the will of the people at the ballot box. Guyana’s non-democratic trajectory is dangerous for its citizens and for the hemisphere as a whole. I hope that Guyana’s leaders understand what is at stake if they continue down this path” US Secretary of State Pompeo noted.
When the United States imposes sanctions, they first come in the form of personal which affects visa revocation and green card cancelation as a first phase. The are several other phases which would hit directly to individuals who are being targeted by the sanctions before more hardline approaches of moving to sanction the country if those individuals who are targeted by the sanctions are holding public office at the level of state agencies and government appointments.
Some officials in the Guyana Government have made it clear that comments emanating from the United States and other international and regional bodies are nothing more but interference in the affairs of Guyana.
