HAPPILY NEVER AFTER: PRESIDENT TO DIVORCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L GEORGETOWN 000386 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017 TAGS: PGOV GY SUBJECT: HAPPILY NEVER AFTER: PRESIDENT TO DIVORCE Classified By: CHARGE MICHAEL THOMAS FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Ending public speculation regarding the status of their relationship, President Bharrat Jagdeo and First Lady Varshnie Jagdeo yesterday announced the end of their nine year marriage. The announcement came as a shock to no one-rumors of adultery, separation, and domestic violence have been rife for some time. END SUMMARY -------------- "ALL OUT" AT THE CRICKET MATCH -------------- ¶2. (C) The tumultuous relationship of President Jagdeo and his wife came to a boil at the Cricket World Cup in Guyana last week. Apparently, the First Lady and her father showed up, uninvited, to the one of the cricket matches and were seated in the Presidential Box. An angry Jagdeo ordered his chief protocol officer to have her removed from the premises. The officer refused, and he was subsequently relieved of his duties and sent home. After the media got a hold of the story and began to ask questions, Jagdeo told them that he would "deal with that within two weeks time." A week later, the Jagdeos announced their pending divorce. -------------- A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE -------------- ¶3. (C) Despite their gala wedding ceremony in 1998, many speculated that the marriage between Jagdeo and Varshnie was one of convenience. At the time, Jagdeo was an up-and-coming politician, rising through the ranks of the People's Progressive Party (PPP),and sitting on the doorstep of the presidency. It is rumored that Janet Jagan, then President of Guyana, persuaded Jagdeo to marry in order to project a more stable, family-oriented image. In fact, Varshnie, who was born and raised in the U.K., immediately went back to school in England following their wedding -- they lived apart for two years before she finally returned to Guyana. There have been all sorts of salacious rumors surrounding the Jagdeos' marriage. From the very beginning, it was common knowledge that Jagdeo continued to have girlfriends or other liaisons on the side. Varshnie is also believed to have been living with a boyfriend the last few years. The political opposition has also pushed the unlikely rumor that Jagdeo prefers men - in the last election, the leader of the opposition party, Robert Corbin, often insinuated in his campaign speeches that Jagdeo was gay. -------------- ME, MYSELF, AND I -------------- ¶4. (C) COMMENT: Jagdeo's divorce announcement comes at a time when he has become increasingly insular in his actions. Long-time PPP members have commented that the President no longer seeks outside counsell from his advisors or his party-- he prefers that any government decisions come through him personally. Now, in the ultimate sign of going it alone, Jagdeo has even jettisoned his wife. END COMMENT Thomas