UK pledges to support democratic values, human rights in Guyana

Amid concerns over alleged human rights abuses here acting British High Commissioner to Guyana, Ray Davidson has pledged his government’s support in addressing same.

In a Facebook post introducing himself following the departure of Greg Quinn, Davidson noted that support for British people experiencing difficulties in Guyana or Suriname will also be provided and pledged that the UK will maintain its support to democratic values and human rights on the political front.

The main opposition last week complained that since the PPP/C Government has regained power thousands of Guyanese have been dismissed, shot at, tear gassed, flooded, politically prosecuted, and had their rights violated.
“Since August 2, 2020, hundreds of thousands of people in Guyana have been under unrelenting attack and political persecution at the hands of the state under the Irfaan Ali regime. Guyanese seeking land to build their homes on have been shot at, tear gassed and flooded out. Children, mothers and thousands of poor people are in a perpetual state of oppression under the Irfaan Ali regime,” the APNU+AFC reported.

It further reported that: “Women who are unconnected to politics have been fired en masse from their jobs with no reason or basis provided. Hundreds of them are single mothers and the sole breadwinners of their families. The unconscionable and heartless actions of the Irfaan Ali PPP regime has put thousands of persons on the breadline, with no place to live as they are unable to pay their rents. There has been mass ethnic cleansing of the public service, with almost 1000 Afro-Guyanese terminated.”

Crime, according to the coalition, has increased exponentially, and public safety is at an all-time low.

Davidson will also serve as the Charge d’ Affairs, non-resident for Suriname.
Quinn’s last position held was Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Kazakhstan. He has also worked at the United Nations, Former Soviet Union, and the Middle East, in addition to two years spent at the United States Department of State where he worked on Iraq.

Informing the media of the ongoing transition, Davidson said: “Even though I’m only stepping up to the plate in a temporary capacity, I can assure you that the work of the High Commission will continue in full throttle. There will be no let-up in our support for British companies wishing to invest in the region and we continue to look at supporting work on Climate Change.”