By Tracey Khan – Drakes
![Outgoing US Ambassador to Guyana, Brent Hardt. [iNews' Photo]](https://i0.wp.com/www.inewsguyana.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Hardt-.jpg)
“I think you probably notice in the course of the attack, there was no substantive response to the issues that I raised,” Hardt told media operatives when approached for a comment earlier today, Thursday, July 03.
During the US independence celebration last evening at the home of the Ambassador, Minister Manickchand unleashed Government’s wrath, calling his conduct ‘unprofessional and undiplomatic.’
In recent times, Hardt has been pressuring the government, more specifically President Donald Ramotar to set a date for the long overdue local government elections.
More recently, he chastised Ramotar for selectively upholding the constitution of Guyana.
Despite publicly embarrassing him, the outgoing Ambassador said that Manickchand’s attack will not affect the bilateral relationship between the US and Guyana.
He noted that his Government is fully aware that it can make a real contribution and has been doing so over the years and intends to continue this trend.
“Our interest is to build a partnership with Guyana that is democratic, healthy, secure, safe and strong and we’re gonna continue doing that and we have a great embassy, I know I leave the country in very good hands and they will carry forward all the great works and partnership that we are engaged in,” the Ambassador said.
Hardt does not share the view that there is tension between the US and Guyana as he questioned whether so much success between the two States would have been possible if significant tension really did exist.
The outgoing Ambassador said the two sides have differences and tension was not his focus.
“We can overcome any kind of differences that we have but again I think if you look at the scope of the work we do, the scope of the work we have done, you couldn’t do that by an environment characterized by tension so I just don’t share that kind of consensus, we found the ways forward even on the most difficult issues and we will continue to do that, that’s why we’re sent here.”
When asked to respond to his critics about meddling in the affairs of the country, the Ambassador declined to react and instead said he is in Guyana to engage.
“I am confident in the work we do and I sleep well at nights knowing that we have been able to advance those goals and objectives and values in many many ways and I think you have seen the receptivity of the people of Guyana to those efforts and the wrath of which they greet them and that’s what I will take away with me, it’s that great feeling of warm receptivity and the great embrace of the people.”
Today is Hardt’s last day in office.
How much were you paid that comment? Your vapid and senseless response almost does not warrant a reply..but you sir are the reason why we would never rise and be the people we were destined to be.
Mr. Hardt has every right to criticize a corrupt and detached administration who tenure has been plagued with failure at a high human and economic cost to Guyanese.
His mission is to promote democracy and the interest of the US. The man is his good consciousness good not stand the nincompoopery that he sees everyday in the Govt. of Guyana and the evils that continue to be inflicted on its people.
you trampled on the rights of a soverrign nation and now your feelings hurt because they respond to you in kind and not kiss your backside because you are american and a big bad bully? in the first place you are not there to conduct your business with out government input..but u are such a bully you just didnt care what you did..you crushed guyanese before and you have power to do it again..just because you can do it to put those in power who will kiss your bacside and say how high massa how high when you say jump?
I will not lose any sleep over a speech and I will not bother with the usual poisonous blogs. The opposition blames the Government for every ill, so what else is new.
Guyana is a democracy and Freedom of Speech is guaranteed to all. I am sure it will take more than a speech from a courageous Woman/Minister to rattle or ruffle the feathers of a US Ambassador.
As a small country and a free people, Guyanese must never compromise or take for granted its Freedom, but must fight tooth and nail to preserve what our forefathers gave us.