US revokes Guyanese security minister's visa

Friday, February 6, 2004

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): The United States has revoked the travel visa of Guyana's home affairs minister, Ronald Gajraj, amid calls for a probe into allegations that he was a key player in a state-sponsored death squad that hunted dangerous criminals, a top official said Thursday.

"That step has been taken and we have been informed informally that there is such a move," Foreign Minister Rudy Insanally told reporters.

Canada revoked Gajraj's visa last week, but Ottawa and Washington have refused to give specific details on the reasons for their decision, and Gajraj has refused to comment, as well.

Meanwhile, Foreign Trade Minister Clement Rohee's US visa application has been pending for six weeks while the US State Department completes a probe.

Insanally said the visa problems facing the government have forced President Bharrat Jagdeo to begin "reviewing its implications and what has to be done."

Britain, for its part, has said the one-month-old allegations against Gajraj cast doubt on the Guyanese government's integrity, and London has joined the United States and Canada in calling for an investigation.

Insanally refused to speculate about whether the allegations prompted the revocation of the visas. 

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