By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): Belizean Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith says Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has turned down his offer to resign as Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the deadly sinking of the MV Barima, following the cancellation of his United States visa.
Smith, a former Belize Foreign Minister and Attorney General, received an email from the Consular Section of the US Embassy in Belmopan informing him that his visa had been revoked. The embassy confirmed it but did not give a reason.
Speaking to reporters in Guyana on Tuesday, Smith said that even though he had done nothing wrong, the professional thing to do was to inform President Ali and offer to step down in case the matter could hinder his work. He said the President “emphatically declined.”
Smith also offered to resign as Chairman of the University of Belize Board of Directors. Foreign and Education Minister Francis Fonseca, who appointed him, said not at this time. CARICOM, where Smith serves as High Level Representative for law and criminal justice, has yet to respond.
Smith firmly rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing, saying he does not take or traffic drugs, does not represent drug traffickers, is not involved in immigration schemes and has no links to money laundering or terrorism financing.
He believes the decision is linked to his work with China. Smith said he visited China in January, met senior officials at its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and helped set up study tours for young Belizeans in media and academia.
“I am aware that the United States government has indicated that it frowns upon any expansion of China’s footprint in Latin America,” he said.
Smith says he will not appeal the decision or reapply for a US visa.
The post Guyana President rejects Godfrey Smith’s offer to resign after US visa revoked appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): Belizean Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith says Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has turned down his offer to resign as Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the deadly sinking of the MV Barima, following the cancellation of his United States visa. Smith, a former Belize Foreign Minister and Attorney General,
The post Guyana President rejects Godfrey Smith’s offer to resign after US visa revoked appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
