Visa cancellation and financial sanctions handled by separate U.S. agencies – Ambassador

U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot has clarified that visa revocations and financial sanctions are managed by two distinct U.S. government agencies, amid growing public interest in the recent visa cancellation of local comedian-turned-political commentator Odessa Primus.

Primus, a vocal supporter of businessman Azzurdin Mohamed—who is under sanctions by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)—was returned to Guyana Friday evening, hours after she departed Guyana and was refused entry at JFK International Airport.

As reported in other sections of the press, Primus said she suspects it may be linked to her public support of businessman Azruddin Mohamed, and that she was questioned by the US agents about the Mohameds, about a number of Government officials and other persons, including political activists.

In an invited comment from the media on Monday, Ambassador Theriot said, “visa issues and economic sanctions are handled by entirely separate entities” within the U.S. government.

While the ambassador drew a clear line between the two processes, she did not rule out the possibility that sanctions-related associations could lead to visa actions.

Ambassador Theriot emphasized that these measures are not arbitrary but are based on documented connections and interactions that extend beyond casual or social acquaintance.

“If you associate yourself with an OFAC-sanctioned individual, if you did so in ways that are laid out in the sanctions—that’s different from just knowing them or being friendly and taking pictures,” Theriot explained.

While sanctions are reserved for business associations and handled by the Department of the Treasury, Primus’ visa cancellation would have been handled by the Department of State.