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[Listing of agencies receiving informational copies on PDF]
O 301445 MAY 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6886
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E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CASC (HUNTER, KATHERINE)
SUBJECT: W/W MRS. KATHERINE HUNTER [date of birth deleted]
REF: GEORGETOWN 1670
1. The following report is for Department’s information should they be queried by the press or members of Congress concerning our assistance to Mrs. Hunter.
2. On May 25, 1978 the manager of the Pegasus Hotel and a senior GOG immigration official contacted our Consul and requested his assistance in facilitating the departure of Mrs. Hunter, an American citizen, then residing at the Pegasus Hotel who had become ill and was under a physician’s care. The immigration official also informed Consul that Mrs. Hunter’s visa had expired and she was required to depart Guyana when she was able to travel.
3. Consul met with Mrs. Hunter later that same day and she requested his assistance in arranging funds to be sent to her from the United States to defray some unanticipated expenses (reported reftel). Consul also assisted in arranging for air reservations which are difficult to obtain at this season. Due to Mrs. Hunter’s expression
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of concern about her departure and the fact that her visa had expired, Consul and hotel manager accompanied Mrs. Hunter to the airport whence she departed for the United States on May 28.
4. Post has received a query from a California newspaper concerning Mrs. Hunter. The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat called the Embassy PAO [Public Affairs Officer] on May 27 to check on a “report” that Mrs. Hunter was under “Guyanese protective custody” at the Embassy’s request. PAO responded that Embassy had not repeat not made any such request.
5. Pegasus Hotel was plagued by several unexplained room fires and telephoned bomb threats during the period of Mrs. Hunter was at the hotel and police officers were posted on the hotel premises. We do not know nor have we been informed by the local authorities that these incidents were connected with Mrs. Hunter’s stay.
6. Mrs. Hunter informed Consul that she works as a freelance reporter-photographer. [2 lines deleted] Mrs. Hunter made no contact with the Embassy in her capacity as journalist during her stay. Her only contact with the Embassy is the one described above.
Burke
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