….reminds her of elections interference, spiriting away of Charrandass Persaud
Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon has turned down a request for a farewell courtesy call from outgoing High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, Lillian Chatterjee, reminding her of the role the embassy played in the spiriting away of Charandas Persaud following his no confidence vote and her conduct during the March 2, 2020 elections.
Chatterjee had requested the courtesy call for December 9, 2020 but Harmon responded that the said date is not available based on other commitments scheduled.
Furthermore, he raised as concerning to his party, Chatterjee’s facilitation of former Alliance For Change (AFC) Member, Charrandas Persaud out of the country following his vote of no-confidence against the APNU+AFC Government in 2018. The Opposition Leader said that he nonetheless looks forward to meeting with Chatterjee’s successor, as she has recently been reassigned from Guyana to Barbados.
“I regret to advise that the date for the farewell courtesy call with my office for the 9th of December, 2020 at 13:00hours has become inconvenient due to other urgent political commitments on that day. I trust that your tour of duty in Barbados will be a fruitful one,” Harmon said, adding: “During the tenure in Guyana, a matter of concern was the role which the High Commission played in facilitating the departure of Charrandas Persaud from Guyana immediately after he had voted against the APNU+AFC Coalition in the National Assembly. Of equal concern were the breaches of Diplomatic Protocol which took place during the electoral count of votes for the March 2020 Elections. Notwithstanding the above, I expect that the good relations between Canada and Guyana will continue to be pursued for the mutual benefit of our peoples. In this regard, I look forward to an early engagement with your successor in office. Merry Christmas to you and your family.”
In October, it was announced by Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, François-Philippe Champagne that Chatterjee would be leaving Guyana. In a tweet, the outgoing High Commissioner said: “Sorry to leave Guyana and Suriname but glad to remain in the @CARICOMorg family with my new appointment as High Commissioner to Barbados. A privilege to represent Canada.”
Chatterjee was appointed as High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana and Suriname in 2017 when she replaced High Commissioner Pierre Giroux. She was previously Director-General for the Canadian Partnership Branch, Communications Branch and Strategic Policy and Performance Branch where she organized Canada’s 2010 G8 Development Ministers’ Meeting, which led to the Muskoka Initiative on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
