US Embassy was not aware of information that led to visa review of Judge -Ambassador Theriot

Explaining that the US Embassy would at times furnish information to Washington on visa holders and their eligibility to continue holding on to their visas, the US Ambassador to Guyana said today said the embassy was not aware of information related to the visa review for Justice Gino Persaud.

The High Court Judge was blocked on Sunday morning from boarding a US bound flight at the Cheddi Jagan Airport and was informed that his US visa was under review.

“On occasion we would submit that information, but in the case that I think you are talking about, we were not aware”, the Ambassador told reporters this morning on the sidelines of a security conference in Guyana.

The US Envoy explained that a visa could be placed under review when a US agency receives information from a source about the holder of a US visa.

“It means that from some US Government source, they have received some information that would cause them to reconsider whether that person is eligible for a visa”, Ambassador Theriot said.

While not offering details on the specific case of Justice Gino Persaud, the US Ambassador said visa reviews are done back in Washington and the Embassy would not be told about the review until a decision is made. Once that decision is made, the Embassy would be tasked with relaying that information over to the visa holder.

Justice Gino Persaud has not offered any comment about the US Government’s move to review his visa. He is expected to visit the local embassy for information on the issue. He is currently attending a Commonwealth Judicial Conference in Jamaica.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Anil Nandlall has since dismissed claims that the Guyana Government may have been responsible for the US visa review for the High Court Judge. On his issues in the News television programme on Tuesday, the Attorney General said the Guyana Government and its officials do not have any such authority over US foreign policy.

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