By Mark DaCosta- The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime is yet again defending one of its own in wake of indefensible conduct. In this latest instance, Guyana’s High Commissioner to India Charrandas Persaud. Guyanese will recall that the former Alliance for Change (AFC) Member of Parliament’s vote of no confidence had triggered the series of events that culminated in the PPP”s rise to political power in August 2020.
In the most recent example of the PPP circling its wagons in defense of another disgraceful display by another one of its officers, the regime has flippantly dismissed evidence that High Commissioner Persaud has committed unacceptable — and possibly criminal — conduct.
A video has surfaced that apparently shows Persaud abusing a woman in India. In the video, the High Commissioner can be clearly heard using obscenities to a woman saying: “I don’t need a dog in my yard alright. You want the dog, take it and put it between your legs…you probably want the dog to F*** you…that’s what you want. I don’t care… I don’t care who you are. F*** you!” The incident reportedly occurred on August 1, 2021 on the premises of the High Commissioner’s home in India.
See video below
In response to the public revelation, the PPP regime has issued a statement saying, “[The matter] was fully investigated by the relevant authorities and a formal response dated September 3, 2022 indicates that “allegations of sexual abusive words to complainant has (sic) not been substantiated”. The [Guyana] Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation therefore considers this matter closed.”
The allegation, accompanied by the video and audio evidence, against High Commissioner Persaud had been made by a woman in India. The complaint had been brought to the attention of the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
The PPP regime’s latest defence of alleged misconduct by one of its own without any transparent investigation has become an established and predictable pattern of the regime’s response to such allegations. Significant reports of personal and sexual abuse, physical threats, and high level bribery and corruption have all been casually dismissed by the PPP regime. In the majority of such cases, President Irfaan Ali has personally spoken in defense or dismissal of alleged high level misconduct.
