GUYANA-Government denies involvement in US visa matter involving judge.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government has described social media reports as “utter foolishness” that it played a role in the United States government’s decision to “review” the visa of High Court judge Gino Persaud.

The judge was prevented from boarding an airline last week as he attempted to attend the Annual Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association (CMJA) Conference in Jamaica. His flight was due to land in the United States before he traveled to Kingston.

The judge has made no public statement on the issue. Still, on his weekly Facebook and television program Tuesday night, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall told viewers that Washington has also not made any public statement on the matter.

“So I have no informed comment to make on the matter. But I guess it is a universally known fact that the US has always exercised great sovereign control over those who are permitted to travel to their country and that’s a known fact”

He said that the social media reports had suggested that President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharat Jagdeo and himself were linked to the “visa review because of our public criticism of this judge after his ruling in the Lamborghini and Ferrari tax cases.

“Now, I don’t think that I need to tell you that that’s utter foolishness. The government of Guyana, including the President, the Vice President and the Attorney General have absolutely no influence whatsoever over American US foreign policy or any aspect of American US government or US governance,” Nandlall said in his weekly “Issues in the News” program.

He said the trio in particular have “certainly no influence whatsoever in relation to whom the US will permit to travel to the United States of America.

“So, it’s absolute nonsense. Absolute nonsense, not even worthy of a response. But that’s the reckless and irresponsible statements that are coming from these quarters,” he added.

The tax case Nandall referred to involved Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, with US authorities reporting that he provided evidence indicating he had allegedly paid more than he stated for the sports vehicle, resulting in less duty and tax being paid to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The US grand jury had alleged that Mohamed directed an unnamed individual to acquire a Lamborghini from California that cost approximately US$680,000 for his benefit, caused the shipment of the Lamborghini via private and commercial interstate carrier from Miami to Guyana, and directed the individual to create an invoice to make it falsely appear that the Lamborghini cost US$75,300.

The GRA has since appealed the High Court decision.

The Opposition Leader and his businessman father Nazar Mohamed are now before the courts here contesting a request by the United States for their extradition to face trial for alleged wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering in a Florida federal court.

The businessman, in a statement Monday, said that he wanted there “to be absolutely no ambiguity about our relationship with Justice Gino Persaud. My son and I have never met him, neither as a lawyer nor as a Judge.

“He has never conducted business with us, or had any personal, professional or social relationship with us. Our only connection is that matters involving our family came before him as a judge of the High Court,” said Mohamed, who has expressed doubt about getting a fair trial inna.

“We now learn that his United States visa is reportedly under review. I will not publicly assert what caused that review without evidence. But given everything that has happened, it would be foolish to ignore the circumstances. What message does this send to the next judge or magistrate deciding a matter involving my son or me?”

He said judicial independence means a judge must decide a case based on the law and the evidence, without worrying about who will be angered by the decision or what consequences may follow.

“No judge should have to wonder whether ruling against the Government could affect his career, his ability to travel, his reputation or his personal life,” said Mohamed.