Dear Editor,
Attorney General Anil Nandlall clearly misspoke when he deemed the Mohameds to be fugitives from justice. AG Nandlall, if he wants to regain some honour and self-respect, should apologize for that fugitive remark. If he refuses to apologize, it probably means he doesn’t understand the meaning of the phrase, fugitives from justice.
AG Nandlall surely would have been involved at certain levels with several agencies of the US government regarding (a) sanctions imposed on the Mohameds; (b) indictments; (c) the extradition request. Did Mr Nandlall at any time stand up for Guyana when he interacted with those agencies of the US government? For example, did he tell them that Guyana had already instituted charges against the Mohameds and Guyana had the first right to try them in Guyanese courts for a crime that originated on Guyanese soil? Only after the Guyana court cases are completed, should Guyana consider the extradition request.
AG Nandlall should reflect on the meaning of sovereignty. It certainly doesn’t mean non-cooperation with US govt agencies; it means standing up for the sovereign right to try your own citizens for alleged crimes committed in Guyana. It certainly is something that can be negotiated with American officials.
As far as Guyanese citizens can figure out, it appears AG Nandlall has sold this country out. Mr Nandlall should go on the radio and TV and tell the Guyanese people how the American officials reacted to his plea for Guyana to have the first shot at trial of the Mohameds, if he did make that plea.
It gets worse. Many times, sanctions do not lead to indictments. Gold smuggling is not treated the same as drug smuggling. Something is funny about the Mohameds’ extradition request story. Very funny.
So, what role did the US-based lobbying firm hired by the Guyana Government play in all of this, if any? Whose idea was it to turn sanctions into indictments and extradition requests? Is this thing 100% politics? Or is it 50% politics/50% submission to American law enforcement agencies? Columnist/commentator Dr Vishnu Bisram opined, “It is 100% politics”.
The courts in Guyana need to pierce the veil behind these extradition request hearings. Subpoena officials of OFAC (the US Treasury Department) and ask them to explain the differences in policy issues and, why shouldn’t Guyana have the right to try a pair of Guyanese citizens first for an alleged crime committed on Guyana’s soil.