Georgetown : President Donald Ramotar, in giving an official reaction to the recent United States (US) State Department Report on Guyana told the media that the US should be among the last countries to criticise Guyana as they have a less than stellar record when it comes to many human rights issues.
“We do have issues which we will continue to work on,” the Head of State said as he pointed to Guantanamo Bay where hundreds of prisoners labelled as terrorists are held, the recently seen hunger strikes and the implementation of torture such as water boarding. “That is something that we would never do here in Guyana,” he stated.
President Ramotar further noted that the Western superpower was “No paragon of virtue” when it comes to its human rights record over the years adding, “We do not like being lectured to by other countries”.
He believes that Guyana deserves recognition for its efforts to improve the safety and security of society, making reference to the ongoing amendments to the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism legislation that will soon be returning to the Parliament.
The most recent human rights report by the US State Department had offered both praise and criticism to the Guyana Government for its actions and measures implemented in several key areas.
It presented its views on Guyana’s performance in the categories of respect for the integrity of persons, respect for civil liberties, political rights, corruption and the lack of transparency in Government, Government’s attitude regarding international and non-governmental investigation of alleged violations of human rights, discrimination, social abuse, trafficking in persons and workers’ rights.
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