Opposition parties the AFC and APNU are unhappy with recent statements made by the Governor of the State of Roraima, José de Anchieta Junior, at the PPP/C’s Lethem rally on Sunday where and say they will be lodging formal complaints with the Brazilian authorities over the appropriateness of the remarks.
However, the PPP/C yesterday said that the governor was not campaigning for the ruling party, but simply using the platform to greet the residents of Region Nine on behalf of the Brazilian state.
According to GINA, the Brazilian governor “lauded the leadership of President Bharrat Jagdeo, who will be demitting office shortly, and said that Guyana has made tremendous progress in bettering the lives of its people.” The governor also expressed the hope for the friendly relations between the two neighbouring countries would continue under the new administration.
The governor and Presi-dent Jagdeo had an engagement prior to the rally to discuss several projects that will benefit the citizen of both countries, GINA reported.
The AFC, in a release, condemned the governor’s actions saying that it was a “violation of Guyana’s sovereignty.
The misguided governor must have been aware that the nation is about to have presidential, national assembly, and regional elections, and that it is bad protocol for one state to openly seek to influence the politics of another state; even if invited to do so by one of the political parties.
This act of being seen, and speaking, at a political rally in another country is a clear violation of protocol, and international laws and conventions.” The AFC queried what could have been the “political motive behind this brazen move”.
The party added that it “intends to seek an explanation from the Government of Brazil, not only about this event, but as to the larger issue of Brazilian interest in Guyana; and it is now clear that there is profound interest and involvement beyond the expected government to government relations.
“The people of Guyana respect the government and people of Brazil and ask that the same respect for our people and sovereignty be reciprocated.
“An explanation and apology are owed to the people of Guyana” the AFC said.
When contacted, Lance Carberry of the APNU said that what happened on Sunday “was a gross interference in the affairs of Guyana”.
He opined that the PPP/C and by extension the government was “compromising” the governor.
“I don’t even know if he was aware that he was being compromised,” Carberry opined adding that the governor should not be appearing on any political platform.
According to him, the APNU has every intention of protesting through diplomatic and other means but will have to meet before deciding on which particular action to pursue. “I hope this is not a reflection of the views of the Brazilian government,” Carberry added.
Carberry also criticized the government for scheduling the visit at the same time of the PPP/C’s rally, and said that it was an abuse of state resources.
Further, Carberry opined that the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) should take note of what has been happening and address the issue.
In a statement issued yesterday, PPP/C campaign manager Robert Persaud said the governor did not go to Lethem to campaign for the ruling party but that he used the platform to greet the residents of Region Nine on behalf of the Brazilian state. “It must be recognized that the two border communities (Boa Vista and Lethem) have very close people-to-people contact and a level of interdependence and exchange,” Persaud said.
According to Persaud, prior to the public meeting, the governor had official talks with President Jagdeo, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues- Birkett and Region Nine officials on improving relations and cross-border trade. The meeting, Persaud said, was held on Sunday as it was convenient for President Jagdeo’s schedule.
Efforts to contact Brazil’s Ambassador to Guyana Gilberto de Andrade for comment were unsuccessful.
