US Embassy says Natural Resources Minister not questioned nor detained during “meeting” with US authorities

US Embassy says Natural Resources Minister not questioned nor detained during “meeting” with US authorities

As questions continue to swirl over Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, being met by US Federal agents during his arrival in New York last Thursday, the US Embassy has indicated that the Minister met with the US authorities, but was not questioned nor detained.

The Embassy has also stated that the Government of Guyana has made no inquiries regarding the meeting.

“As Minister Bharrat stated, he met with authorities upon arrival at JFK, but was neither questioned nor detained. The Government of Guyana has made no inquiries regarding the meeting”, the statement from the Embassy said.

The statement by the Embassy was in direct response to questions raised by News Source with the Embassy.

While not offering any details of the reasons behind the US agents meeting the Minister upon his arrival or details of the meeting, the Embassy said further questions on the issue should be directed to the US Department of Homeland Security.

In responding to questions from another local news outfit, the US Embassy said the Minister was not “interrogated”.

On Friday, the Minister said he was not questioned nor detained and claimed that he “chatted” with the agents about Guyana’s development while being escorted through the airport. He said they were providing travel courtesies to him.

But over the weekend, the Minister’s Attorney, Sanjeev Datadin was quoted by the Stabroek News as saying that one of the agents who escorted the Minister made a comment about the recent sanctions against businessmen, Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed.

It is unclear what led to that “comment” by the US agent. However, the Attorney also stated that the Minister was traveling on a Diplomatic passport and could not be questioned because of diplomatic immunity.

Diplomatic immunity is not extended to all holders of diplomatic passports, and is usually reserved for accredited diplomatic representatives serving in a country.

The Guyana Government has been tightlipped on the issue, with the President telling News Source that there was nothing to explain.

While initially, the Minister stated that he “chatted” with the agents about Guyana’s development, his Attorney’s revelation that a “comment” about the sanctions against the Mohameds was made, will likely raise even more questions about what exactly occurred while the Minister was being escorted through the airport, and what other issues were raised, or comments made.

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