Ramotar says never briefed by US on gold smuggling probe

Donald Ramotar

As the trading of blame continues with respect to the government’s tackling of gold smuggling and corruption here, former president Donald Ramotar yesterday said that during his tenure in office the United States never raised the issue of gold smuggling with him.

Although the 2012 US$11.5 million Curacao heist where gold was stolen from a Guyanese fishing vessel believed to be smuggling it for individuals here occurred under his tenure, he said that when he left office local police were investigating. 

“I didn’t know about any gold smuggling investigation… The US never raised it with me or said anything,” the former president told the Stabroek News yesterday. As regards the Curacao gold heist having local connections, he added, “As far as I know, it was the police handling the investigations. The last time I asked the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, they had said that they were cooperating with the police.”