US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attempted to make contact with President David Granger at least twice on Wednesday before he announced visa restrictions against persons in Guyana that the US believes are undermining democracy.
Sources close to the Ministry of the Presidency have confirmed to News Source that the attempts to make contact with the President were made through the Guyana Embassy in Washington by the US State Department.
News Source understands that the President was informed of the efforts to make contact with him but reportedly indicated that he was not available at the time when the call from Washington was being requested.
The US Secretary of State went ahead with his announcement on Wednesday while his office has reportedly indicated that he would still like to have a discussion with the President.
Political watchers familiar with the request have indicated to News Source that it appears as though Pompeo might have wanted to make the call to bolster his statement.
During his statement on the visa restrictions, Mr. Pompeo said President David Granger should step aside. That statement was made even as there has been no final declaration by the Elections Commission and a matter on that declaration is currently before Guyana’s Supreme Court.
During a press conference yesterday, the US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Ann Lynch admitted that the Government of Guyana was not formally informed of the visa restrictions. She said the government would have been made aware the same time that the rest of the country was made aware via Pompeo’s press engagement.
The Ambassador also said she could not identify the persons who will be affected by the visa restrictions, but the embassy later indicated that the affected persons will be informed directly by the Consular Affairs Division of the US Embassy.
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