Gov’t rejects US request to relay VOA to Venezuela

GEORGETOWN (CMC):

The Guyana government says it has turned down a request from the United States to relay the Voice of America (VOA) programmes to Venezuela utilising a local medium-wave tower.

President David Granger said his administration rejected the request because of security, health and political risks that Guyana could expose itself to with Venezuela.

“Given the length of an unpoliced western border, the influx of refugees, the unsettled territorial question and the public health risks, it would not be in our national interest to do anything to contribute to destabilising relations at this time,” he said.

The disclosure that Georgetown had rejected the request by Washington comes a few days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the Trump administration would be imposing sanctions on persons whom it considered to be “undermining democracy” as the country awaits the outcome of the disputed March 2 regional and general elections.

Pompeo also said “immediate family members of such persons may also be subject to such restrictions”.

But while Guyana and Venezuela have been at odds over Caracas’ claim to a substantial amount of land in Guyana, the Granger administration has adopted the CARICOM position of non-interference in the internal affairs of any country.

A US Embassy spokeswoman said the American government was no longer interested in the radio project.