Foreign Trade Minister Clement Rohee says he is still unaware of the reason(s) for the delay in the issue of a visa by the US embassy for which he applied more than two weeks ago.
Stabroek News approach-ed Rohee after being told by the US embassy that it normally informs applicants about the reason for any delay in issuing them a visa. "I am yet to be informed" about the reason for the delay, Rohee said yesterday.
Stabroek News had approached the embassy for information about the delay but the embassy declined to comment on the issue. An embassy official told Stabroek News that the inquiries should be directed to Rohee, since he would have been informed about the reason(s) for the delay. The official said that considerations of privacy prevented them from discussing any individual case.
However, the official explained that should a minister apply for a visa whether for diplomatic travel or otherwise, the process is expedited and he/she is not required to attend the embassy for an interview.
Rohee confirmed on Monday that he was yet to be granted a visa to travel to the US for which he applied two weeks ago. He said that the application was made via the Protocol Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Since his appointment as minister of foreign affairs in November 1992 Rohee has travelled several times to the US and through the US while on government business. This is the first time that he has encountered this problem.