18th of July, 2020. Georgetown, Guyana, South America.
Any government sworn in on the basis of non-credible results will face strong international condemnation and consequences – we have started the process of putting those consequences in place. The UK pays tribute to the patience displayed by the people of Guyana during this challenging time.
UK government – 17th of july, 2020
The United States has already implemented its first phase of sanctions on the illegal APNU/AFC regime which is desperately using all means possible to hold on to power after having lost the March 2, 2020 elections. On the 15th of July, 2020, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, announced visa restrictions for persons culpable of, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Guyana.
The United States maintains that a dictatorship is a dangerous form of government and is a threat not just to national security, but to the entire hemisphere. “Attempting to subvert democracy is dangerous,” international powers have repeatedly warned. These warnings have transformed into forceful action on the 15th of July, 2020 when the US announced visa restrictions for individuals undermining the democratic process in Guyana.
On the 16th of July, 2020, the US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, in a teleconference, confirmed that the visa restrictions took immediate effect, but, due to privacy policies, they cannot release the names of the persons whose visas have been revoked. Instead, those persons will be informed when they attempt to travel to the United States.
When asked about the next phase of sanctions that might hit Guyana if the illegal APNU/AFC government refuses to step down, Ms. Lynch said she cannot comment on that, but that we can look at other countries that have been sanctioned for dictatorship as an example of what might be the next phase.
As such, the United States has called on other countries to join in applying pressure to the David Granger Administration in an effort to compel them to step down and concede defeat. On this note, the UK Government has responded by saying that it has already started the process of putting measures in place for sanctions if the APNU/AFC continues down the trajectory of dictatorship.
On the 17th of July, 2020, the UK Government, through its foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, issued the following statement.
It has been over 4 months since elections in Guyana – no electorate should have to wait that long for a result. The UK is disappointed by the ongoing attempts to frustrate the will of the people. The Caribbean Community scrutinised recount cleared the way to declare a legitimate result. That should now happen.
Any government sworn in on the basis of non-credible results will face strong international condemnation and consequences – we have started the process of putting those consequences in place. The UK pays tribute to the patience displayed by the people of Guyana during this challenging time.
