The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Guyana, in a statement, has indicated that it had expelled its member, Anter Narine.
Narine’s name was mentioned in accusations by the APNU+AFC that he was seen in the company of several Russians at the Marriot Hotel on Elections Day on Monday.
On Thursday, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, told the media, at a press briefing at the party’s campaign headquarters on Lamaha Street, that three foreign nationals were deported on Monday after investigations revealed that the men were conspiring to tap into the systems of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
“I want to say that we are still somewhat hazy on the position. Indeed we had three persons who were speaking to leading members of the PPP at the Marriott Hotel one out of Libya, one out of Russia and one out of America with Russian background that came into this country and we had to deport them on elections day after our intelligence realized that there was some conspiracy to tap into GECOM computer system. They were immediately deported. A fourth one who was not found at his Marriott room is on the run somewhere. We are not finding him,” he told the media.
Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes who appeared with Ramjattan at the press briefing stated earlier on her Facebook page that Narine was seen in the company of the foreign nationals. She said cyber equipment were seized from the men.
“Have the Russians influenced our election process? Did they interfere? Why was AmCham member Anter Narine seen having dinner with these persons?
Americans do not accept this in their country why should we here in Guyana?” she said.
Later on Thursday, AmCham Guyana noted in a statement that it was concerned by Hughes’ statement. The body said that it was formed under the auspices of former US ambassador Perry Holloway and the current US Ambassador Sarah Ann Lynch, who sits as its honorary chair.
As regards the elections, the body said it has been instrumental as a GECOM-accredited observer and that it has been a central hub of observer missions and that it has assembled a team of accomplished officials to observe Guyana’s elections.
While noting that its team has been exposed to the requisite training to observe the elections, the body said that all its members have signed an international code of conduct to observe the elections.
Narine is said to be an active member of the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic and has been seen in the company of that party’s leaders at various public events.
Ramjattan said that the Commissioner of Police has been briefed on the matter regarding the Russians.
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_epaper_03_06_2020