Speaking yesterday at his weekly news conference, Dr. Luncheon said that in the context of the bilateral relationship with Canada, there is very little it can do to change the decision, which he described as a principled one taken by the Canadian authorities.

He added any change to the decision would have to be initiated by the Canadians themselves.

Responding to a question on the decision by the main opposition party the People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) to request CARICOM to put Guyana's political situation on its agenda, Dr. Luncheon said the PNC/R's apparent resolve to highlight the issue of Gajraj's alleged involvement in a death squad has led it to externalize the matter, particularly where the Guyanese diaspora exists and Guyana enjoys diplomatic relationships.

Dr. Luncheon said the government feels that the main opposition party has not optimized the use of local channels available to ventilate its concerns, and urged that the PNC/R should present intelligence information it claims to have to the police.