US embassy closes consular section after substance found in envelope
Stabroek News
March 4, 2003
The US Embassy yesterday announced that it was temporarily closing its consular section from today after the discovery of a suspicious substance in an envelope.
An embassy press release says the consular section would remain closed whilst it is ascertained whether a suspicious substance that was discovered in an envelope opened in that section constitutes any danger to the health of its employees or the public in general.
The release says the consular section would have to be closed until the verification process is completed. “The Embassy will notify the public as soon as the Consular Section returns to normal operations.”
An embassy official told Stabroek News that the envelope, which was mailed locally, was opened yesterday morning. The section was closed as soon as the substance was discovered in accordance with its normal procedures.
The official said the embassy has sought local assistance in determining the nature of the substance in the envelope.
The official said too that even though the chances are quite remote that the substance is anything dangerous, the procedures have to be followed.
Last week the US Embassy announced the discontinuance, for security reasons, of its “drop-box” service for persons applying for non-immigrant visas.
