Granger left Guyana quietly for Trinidad

Last Updated on Thursday, 8 October 2015, 10:40 by GxMedia

President David Granger slipped out of Guyana without informing the nation again that he was leavng the country.

He was in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday where he held bilateral discussions with recently-elected Prime Minister Keith Rowley on Wednesday at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair on several issues of mutual interest.

The Ministry of the Presidency issued no release about the President’s departure from Guyana, but instead issued a media advisory cancelling the accreditation of several Ambassadors on Wednesday.

The then opposition, which is now in government, had criticised then President Bharrat Jagdeo for leaving Guyana without informing the nation.

With Attorney General, Basil Williams saying on Wednesday that First Vice President, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge was performing the duties of Prime Minister in the absence  of substantive Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo; no one knew who was performing the duties of President and Prime Minister nin the absence of Granger, Nagamootoo and Greenidge.

The Trinidad Newsday newspaper quoted a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister, saying this was the first encounter between the two recently- elected leaders and they availed themselves of the opportunity to re-affirm the Guyana-Trinidad and Tobago bilateral relationship which is based on a history of shared values, respect, friendship and a tradition of cooperation at all levels of government, business and civil society. 

During their talks, Granger briefed Rowley on the latest developments regarding the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy. 

The Prime Minister conveyed the expectation that the situation would be resolved in the best interest of all, in accordance with international law, and that neither side would do anything to escalate the situation. In terms of strengthening existing TT-Guyana bilateral ties, Rowley and Granger exchanged views on deepening the collaboration already initiated in agriculture, skills development, and energy cooperation between both countries. 

Also present at yesterday’s talks were Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dennis Moses and Greendige.