In response to the claims of corruption within the Guyana Government as highlighted in the Vice News “Guyana For Sale” report, the US Embassy in Guyana today said accountability and a level playing field are critical for investor confidence.

In a statement to News Source Guyana, the Embassy said “the US has long been an advocate for anti corruption and rule of law in Guyana, as well as a free press”, adding that “consistent with Guyana’s laws, accountability is the soundest approach to maintain confidence in government and a level playing field for all investors”.

Vice News is a US-registered media company. Its documentary-style news reports are aired on the US cable network, Showtime.

In the report on Guyana which was aired on Sunday, Vice News used persons posing as Chinese investors to meet with a close friend of the Vice President and eventually with the Vice President himself about investment opportunities and business dealings in the country.

The Vice President has denied any wrongdoing and has threatened to take legal action against his friend and tenant, Chinese businessman Su Zhi Rong who accompanied the undercover Chinese investors to meet with him and who was caught on camera explaining that bribes would have to be paid to the Vice President to guarantee some business deals in Guyana.

Vice President Jagdeo was also interviewed for the news report and denied taking any bribe or being involved in acts of corruption.

The report also focused on China’s influence in Guyana and other countries in the hemisphere through various multi-billion-dollar investment projects.

The US has been paying close attention to China’s growing influence in its geographical backyard and has also expressed concern of its own about the growing level of corruption in the region.

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