GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) - Guyana said Tuesday it was waiting for an explanation from Canada as to why it revoked the travel visa of a cabinet minister facing allegations that he led an extra-judicial hit squad blamed for more than 40 executions in the past year.
Canada told government officials that Monday's action was routine because of the serious nature of the claims against Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj. But Guyana's government said it wants a more detailed explanation. "We have not heard anything as yet," government spokesman Kellawan Lall said.
Canadian officials in Guyana referred calls to the Canadian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago. Officials there did not return calls seeking comment.
The allegations against Gajraj erupted earlier this month following the killing of a businessman, which the dead man's brother George Bacchus claimed was orchestrated by a hit squad operating outside the police force.
Bacchus told the media and U.S. Embassy officials that he had once worked as an informer for the squad, and implicated Gajraj as its leader.
Gajraj, whose ministry oversees the police force, has denied involvement in any hit squad, but said he did have contact with criminal figures in his efforts to gather police intelligence.
On Saturday, U.S. Ambassador Roland Bullen said the U.S. government expects Guyana to launch an independent investigation into the accusations.
So far, Guyana has said it is looking into the allegations, but the opposition and human rights groups have complained that the inquiry is being led by the police under Gajraj.
The government said it was waiting for Bacchus to give a formal statement before it launches an independent investigation, led either by a parliamentary commission or a nongovernment prosecutor.
But Bacchus is in hiding and has said he does not trust authorities.
The main opposition People's National Congress has led daily protests to demand Gajraj resign, and said it would provide evidence to police to back up Bacchus' claims.
Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen charged three men with the murder of Bacchus' brother, cattle farmer Shafeek Bacchus, and ordered them to remain in custody until a court hearing Wednesday.
Bacchus said he believed his brother's killers were looking for him and shot his brother by mistake because the two look alike.
The police have been struggling to stem a rising wave of violence, with more than 160 killings in 2002 and 210 killings in 2003. Previously, the country averaged about 50 killings a year.
Separately, last year about 30 people were killed by police in anti-crime operations.
The South American country is a former British colony of 700,000 residents.