Guyana's Ambassador to Venezuela, Geoffrey Da Silva earlier this week demanded of the Italian Ambassador to Venezuela that the Italian Government immediately remove Nigel Hughes as Honorary Consul for Italy to Guyana.

Mr. Da Silva informed the Italian Ambassador that the Government of Guyana would not accredit or recognize Nigel Hughes as Honorary Italian Consul to Guyana since his appointment as Chairman of the Alliance for Change.

Mr. Hughes has been acting as Honorary Consul for Italy for in excess of eighteen months. The Government had persistently overlooked his accreditation as Honorary Consul for Italy.

On informing Mr. Hughes of the demand by the Government of Guyana, the Italian Government said to Mr. Hughes   "We have to thank you for the excellent work of your office and yours personally during this period."

The position of Honorary Consul is a voluntary position for which there is no remuneration.

A former consul of several years standing commented," They don't even have the pride in themselves to offer a credible excuse. This poor country will have a hard time surviving the next few years. They don't realise that having quality people in these positions is to their advantage. They feel that they are denying you something when in fact you are the one who is giving at no cost but a big advantage to them".

Former Minister of Trade and Industry Mr. Maniram Persaud continued to perform the services of Consul for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago while serving as a Minister of the Government of Guyana. Mr. Hughes application for accreditation as Honorary Consul for Italy was submitted at the same time as the application for accreditation of the Honorary Consul for Finland Mr. Abdool. In excess of eighteen months ago. Mr Abdool's accreditation as Honorary Consul for Finland was approved within six weeks of the submission of his application while Mr. Hughes' application was persistently overlooked.