Dear Editor,
Rumour mill is swirling with revocation of American visas of several Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, other government functionaries, business persons, imams connected to high government officials, and some family members of the above.
Some individuals were interrogated at American airports, had visas revoked, and deported in the next flight back to Guyana. Conversation centered on USA visa cancellation at my masjid. Is it that US government has taken the position to restrict the movement of individuals who were involved in corruption and or tied to radicalism. What could be behind the wave of visa revocations? What has pissed off the Americans? Is it corruption and money laundering? Or the link with the Middle East and funding of terror? Or a combination of above?
The USA was subject to the worst act of terrorism on 9/11/2001. Subsequently, radicals continued their terror plots in USA. Wanted terrorist Adnan el-Shukrijumah, a non-Guyanese, was traced to Guyana. He worshipped in Zeeburg and was even hosted by a then Minister of government in 2008; that Minister is now a higher ranking official. We are playing with fire in linkage with Middle East.
Radicalism was not part of Guyana culture prior to 2020. People of varied faiths got along well. Most of my friends and neighbours in Diamond are Hindus and Christians and we participate in each other’s prayer meets. When I was growing up in Parika, there was no animosity. Relations are becoming tense. Since 2020, many radicals from the Middle East, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have found their way in Guyana, preaching a kind of radicalism that was never heard before in the country.
Some Guyanese are also received training in radicalism in the Middle East and preaching in Guyana. The spread of radicalism has been encouraged by radicals in Middle East and by elements in government and the business community. Businesspersons receiving contracts from the state were recently coerced into donating to a fund that was sent to Middle East. Also, a school in Georgetown has been instructing students about radicalism and to view non believers as enemies. Has Guyana been heading in the direction of radicalism post 2020? Is that one reason why visas of some individuals are being cancelled? Is the government’s close links with Middle Eastern countries and institutions another reason for visa cancellation?
The government has been strengthening ties with Middle Eastern countries with hardly any benefits. Middle Easterners have been given vast tracts of land in Guyana. Some have acquired prized real estate in greater Georgetown against the wishes of the City Council; Guyanese are being denied plots of land for a house or a small business. Also, Guyana has been borrowing money at very high rates from banks in the Middle East including the Islamic Development Bank while blanking Western lending institutions and banks in America that offer lower rates.
Corruption, radicalism, funding terror groups in Middle East, and engaging in questionable banking relationship with institutions in that region may well have triggered the revocation of visas. In support of America’s action.
Yours truly,
Sharmila Ally
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