Dear Editor,
I refer to the comments by former Minister of Foreign Trade Henry Jeffrey (SN, July 9).
Dr Jeffrey simply cannot have it both ways, and his silence on the daily, monthly, weekly and yearly excesses of the administration in Guyana formerly associated with Mr Bharrat Jagdeo speaks volumes.
Will Dr Jeffrey pen an article on who was “out of line” given the initial evidence involved in the following cases: the Marriott Hotel; the Berbice Bridge; the Sanata Complex acquisition; the media and telecommunications “heist” in Guyana.
Dr Jeffrey rightly refers to “the limited knowledge” he has on the matter he is referring to, and completely misses the point that Ms Manickchand is herself guilty of “unacceptable diplomatic behaviour.”
If he didn’t miss that point, he should have been clearer in expressing it.
Despite his efforts to qualify his statements in the latter part of his article, Dr Jeffrey’s words are eloquent testimony to the fact that the administration in Guyana is basing its entire political future on the premise that no diplomat, no foreign organization, no member of Caricom and no former Minister of Foreign Trade, will be allowed to speak of its excesses or degeneracy without benefiting from a “feral blast.”
Priya Manickchand’s job is simply to create an offensive and noxious presence, and she has proven to be well qualified in that department.
The smell of this latest faux pas will not dissipate any time soon.
Does Dr Jeffrey really expect that that “diplomatic norm” is sustainable ad infinitum? This defies comprehension. It was only a matter of time before someone spoke out. Why not the American Ambassador?
Dr Jeffrey, one can easily conclude, is way out of line.
Yours faithfully
Roger Williams
