GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Brazil has denied interfering in the internal affairs of Guyana after a governor of one of its states appeared on a platform of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) ahead of the November 28 regional and general elections.

In a statement, the Brazilian embassy here said it understands that Guyana, as well as any country, is entitled to choose its representatives in “an independent, free and transparent way”.

“The Embassy of Brazil also reiterates the well-known and traditional position of the Brazilian Government in favour of the principles of non-intervention and self- determination.

“The Brazilian Government expresses, therefore, its total neutrality and impartiality in the development of the electoral process in Guyana and expresses its best wishes and confidence in a successful outcome, as by all expected,” it added.

The PPPC has denied that the Governor of Roraima, Jose de Anchieta, had been campaigning on behalf of the incumbent party.

PPPC campaign manager Robert Persaud said that the governor, who spoke at a rally of the party over the weekend, had not been invited here to speak on behalf of the PPPC ahead of the November 28 general election.

In a statement, he said that the governor held officials talks with outgoing President Bharrat Jagdeo; Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues and Region Nine officials on improving relations and cross border trade.

He insisted that the meeting was held on Sunday since it fitted into President Jagdeo’s schedule.

“The governor merely used the platform to bring greetings from the neighbouring state to the residents of Region Nine.

But the opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) as well as the minority opposition Alliance for Change (AFC) have both condemned the appearance of the Brazilian official on the PPPC platform, saying he was interfering in the internal affairs of the country.

The APNU, which also includes the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), said it was blaming President Jagdeo for the entire incident.

“APNU considers that it is a reflection of the disregard by President Jagdeo and the PPP/C of the norms and practices of what constitutes acceptable behaviour in Guyana and the rest of the English speaking Caribbean. That the PPP/C should engage in such reckless and provocative behaviour, at a critical point in this election cycle, is a reflection of the desperation born of the crisis in which they find themselves.

“It is clear that this carefully planned manipulation of the visit of the Governor is an attempt to portray to the people of Region #9 that the PPP/C is being backed by people in high places in the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil,” the APNU said in a statement.

An APNU delegation, led by presidential candidate Brigadier David Granger and including the prime ministerial candidate Dr Rupert Roopnarine, campaign director Joseph Harmon and Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Greene met with Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana, Luiz Gilberto Seixas de Andrade, on the issue.

The APNU quoted the diplomat as reiterating Brazil’s long- standing policy of non- interference in the internal affairs of neighbouring states.

The AFC has expressed “strongest’ condemnation of the governor’s appearance at the PPPC rally, saying it is a “violation of Guyana’s sovereignty”.

But in its statement, the Brazilian embassy said when the governor learned about President Jagdeo’s visit to Lethem, he took the opportunity to visit him in order to discuss subjects related to the border, as well as the integration between Roraima and Guyana.

“Governor Anchieta also had the chance to meet Donald Ramotar, PPP/C presidential candidate at a courtesy meeting,” the embassy said, adding that the governor took the initiative to salute the community by attending the meeting.