A video recording was released yesterday of Guyana’s High Commissioner to India, Charrandass Persaud verbally abusing a woman in New Delhi in the vilest and most foul language possible on August 1st last year. (See story on page 10.)
Just one viewing of this stomach-churning incident is enough to warrant the immediate recall of Mr Persaud. No one exhibiting the behaviour of the man in the recording should be a member of Guyana’s diplomatic service or anywhere near it. Mr Persaud had been accorded this position more than likely as a result of his voting in favour of the PPP/C in the historic 2018 motion which brought down the APNU+AFC government.
The choice of Mr Persaud for New Delhi was a major mistake. His conduct in this video underlines this. The Government of Guyana will now have the opportunity to make an appropriate appointment and it must offer an apology to the victim of his horrendous and obscene abuse.
A further problem for the government is why Takuba Lodge had not acted earlier on this abomination. At some point after August 1st, 2021 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had to have been notified of the video and the criminal complaint. Why did it not act immediately? Was there an attempt to cover up what Mr Persaud had done in the misguided belief that it would never be revealed?
After presiding over the debacle of a Taiwan business office here, the handling of the disgraceful conduct of Mr Persaud has fundamentally undermined the ministry’s standing at a time when it must be able to project professionalism and deftness in treating with the major issues that face the country. The people of this country expect an explanation from President Ali.
