On its revocation
of Minister Gajraj's travel visa...
Canadian
HC urged to give reasons to police
THE
Canadian High Commission has been urged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to
make available to the Guyana Police the reason it has revoked a Government of
Canada travel visa to Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj.
The
ministry made the call in a statement yesterday.
"In
light of growing speculation, particularly on the part of the media, on the
reasons for the revocation by the Government of Canada of the travel visa
granted to the Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj, the Honourable Ronald
Gajraj, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has communicated with the High
Commission suggesting that it might wish to make available to the Guyana Police
the reasons for the withdrawal.
"Otherwise,
the measure may be seen publicly as a sanction of some wrong-doing on the part
of the Minister," the statement said.
The
Foreign Affairs Ministry said Government believes "that the provision of
such information would serve to discourage any further speculation and to
achieve an understanding and resolution of the matter."
According
to a source, who asked to remain anonymous, the action by the Canadian High
Commission is not peculiar to Guyana.
"Foreign missions take such routine measures around the world in situations where allegations against officials are intense, so as not give the impression that they are taking sides with a government against other interests," the source said
JANUARY 27, 2004