Claims by a Guyanese couple who were recently granted asylum in Canada that they were threatened after the husband refused a request by a government official to hack into the computers of leading members of the opposition and a newspaper columnist, should have been reported to the local police.
In a statement issued yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, while rejecting submissions made by Canada-based Guyanese immigration consultant Balwant Persaud to the authorities there on behalf of a Guyanese couple, questioned why the allegations were never reported to the Guyana Police Force.
In a statement issued yesterday, Rohee said Persaud’s “pre-submission” to the Canadian authorities in favour of the Guyanese “smacks of wild and unsubstantiated allegations”.
He said, “Mr Persaud rolled out the story in a foreign jurisdiction making serious allegations against a serving Minister of Government” and he questioned why the allegations made in the submission by Persaud were never reported to the Guyana Police Force.
In the statement, Rohee said the government was not afforded any opportunity by the Canadian authorities to respond to the allegations, adding, “it appears that Mr Persaud did succeed in duping the Canadian authorities into believing his story.”
He said the actions by the consultant in making claims that the “state is engaged in kidnapping and cybercrime without offering a scintilla of evidence is not only reckless but is tantamount to creating public mischief”, which he noted is a criminal offence here.
He said that Persaud, on his return to Guyana would be expected to demonstrate a sense of responsibility by immediately reporting the issues highlighted in his submissions to the Canadians to the police force here so that they can be investigated.
The Guyanese refugee-seeker, an Information Technology expert, admitted that he sabotaged two “anti-government” websites at the official’s request, but said his refusal to do more resulted in his wife being kidnapped and brutalised in a bid to pressure him.
In November 2009, the couple fled to Canada with Persaud, who filed a refugee claim on their behalf, on the grounds that their lives would be in danger if they returned here.
According to a notice of decision by the Refugee Board, issued on March 31, 2011, the claims for refugee protection by the couple were granted. “The Refugee Protec-tion Division determines that the claimants are convention refugees and therefore the Refugee Protection Division accepts the claims,” the notice said. The case was heard by Judge J. Waters.
