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Yesterday, Shadow Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Ganesh Mahipaul took to his social media page demanding the Persaud’s recall when information was unearthed that last year August he abused animal rights activist, Ms. Sonya Ghosh in India.
According to Mahipual: “This apparent embarrassment and the behaviour of High Commissioner Charrandas Persaud as seen in the video is distasteful to say the least. His ability to represent our interest in India has been seriously compromised. He should be recalled immediately.”
The A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) has since issued a statement that follows the public revelation of a video and audio recording of the High Commissioner abusing a woman at his residence in India. In the recording, Persaud, who is aligned with and appointed Guyana’s High Commissioner to India by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime, is heard telling a woman to “F*** off,” during an expletive filled tirade.
The following is the text of the APNU+AFC statement:
-STATEMENT-
Charrandas Persaud should be immediately recalled
By now, Guyanese have seen a video clip circulating on social media showing Guyana’s High Commissioner to India, Charrandas Persaud, hurling vile remarks towards a female, at a location in India. The content of that video ought to fill all Guyanese with outrage and disgust.
Even more outrageous and disgusting however, is the response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on this matter.
The process through which the Ministry purports to bring finality to the incident is woefully inadequate, disrespectful, and does not satisfy the most basic standards of accountability to the people of Guyana.
In that short clip, Mr. Persaud smashed and dashed several principles connected to our treaty obligations as it relates to the treatment of women, diplomatic etiquette and of plain general decency.
Our Foreign Service personnel walk in the footsteps of the likes of Sir Sridath Ramphal and the late Rashleigh Jackson, who are regarded the world over, as diplomats-par-excellence. It is therefore galling that we have plummeted to the depths of Persaud’s most reprehensible behaviour. The Ministry’s response makes it clear that such conduct is acceptable. It is not!
We cannot purport to present ourselves in the community of nations as any country of consequence, with Mr. Persaud being in the ranks of our foreign service.
The Government of Guyana must immediately recall Charrandas Persaud to save whatever modicum of respect for our diplomacy and foreign representation which might remain.
Editor’s note- Village Voice has since learnt Charrandas Persaud has resigned
