Struggles against division demand efforts of all Guyanese – PM Phillips

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, on the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Tuesday (March 21, 2023), reiterated that the Government of Guyana is committed to implementing policies and programmes that promote equality and justice.

He said, “Your government is committed to implementing policies and programmes that promote equality and justice, including increasing access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, ensuring that all Guyanese are a part of the national development agenda.”

According to him, the international day is used by Guyanese gather to reflect on their progress in the fight against racial discrimination, and to recommit themselves to their ongoing dedication to achieving equality, tolerance, and unity. He added that Guyana has a rich history that comprises people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and has contributed significantly to the country’s diversity and multicultural society. In accordance with the richness of the country’s heritage and history, the government remains committed to ensuring that all people, regardless of race, can access and benefit from every aspect of development in Guyana.

“We will not condone any form of discrimination, be it in the workplace, in the access to education, health, security and all other areas. However, like many other nations, our history depicts instances of racial conflict that have left deep scars on our people,” Phillips stressed.

He reasoned that while confronting this reality and acknowledging the painful episodes of the past, Guyanese must continue to forge forward to create a future free of inequality.

“As leaders, we are responsible for creating a peaceful, productive and prosperous environment where every citizen is valued, respected, and feels a sense of belonging, regardless of ethnicity,

Assembly, and implemented with an active broad-based consultative process by civil society organisations, including cultural groups, religious organisations, business, labour, women and youth groups and other key stakeholders. Having received the unanimous support of the National Assembly, the 10 members of the Commission were sworn-in on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racism.

The Government of Guyana reiterates its commitment to ensuring that the ERC will continue to receive annual budgetary allocations so that it can effectively execute its mandate to promote the elimination of all forms of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, as set out in Article 212D of the Constitution.

As our nation develops, our President’s One Guyana vision becomes even more important - it sets the primary foundational block upon which we can build our country on a united front. We must realize that the One Guyana vision is not simply an objective – it is our reality, and our truth. Though we come from many cultures, many races, and many places of origin, our identity as Guyanese is paramount. We must not allow ourselves to be divided by political parties and agents of those parties who strive to propagate a racist and hateful rhetoric, often to fill a void of any true validity on their part. In the face of any attempts to incite hate and hostility or to create division, it is our fundamental right and responsibility to reject racism.

From the use of carbon-credits for the empowerment of all Amerindian villages to the legal land titling processes for our Indigenous Peoples to the Because-weCare cash grants for all of Guyana’s children, or the humanitarian assistance offered to migrants fleeing their countries for safety, it is evident that our government’s commitment to promoting inclusion and diversity is steadfast.

On this day to mark the International Day to Eliminate All Forms of Racial Discrimination we should not be led astray by a handful of foul spirited persons who despise progress; these are the people who preach hate, fuel tensions and incite violence. They offer nothing to the Guyanese people except pain and division. Neither must we be wilful bystanders who witness these divisive acts and remain silent.

Today, like every other day, it is our duty to acknowledge, embrace and respect diversity, and to unite our efforts to build One Guyana for all Guyanese.

March 2020 Election Fraud... ←

race, or religion. Therefore, it is critical that we lead by example, not just in words but through our actions in guiding our people, which show what we stand for,” the Prime Minister related.

He added, “At the same time, we must also recognise the importance of dialogue and engagement among different ethnic groups. We must work to build bridges of understanding and promote cultural exchange, fostering a sense of community and shared identity.” cases, the manipulated declarations increased votes for the APNU+AFC and decreased the votes for the PPP/C. By the end of the recount for Region 4, the declarations were exposed as having been manipulated.

He called for the Guyanese to renew their commitment to equality, justice, and non-discrimination and for them to stand together as One Guyana, to work towards a future where every person is valued and respected. “I want us all to be reminded that the struggle against racial discrimination is ongoing and requires every citizen’s collective effort. With determination and commitment, let us continue to work together towards a brighter future for all Guyanese built on unity and mutual respect,” he said.

Mingo and Lawrence are facing a joint charge, which alleges that on March 5, 2020, in Georgetown, with intent to defraud the public, they uttered a certain forged document, that is to say, a report purporting to be a true declaration of all votes cast in District Four for the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections, knowing said report to be forged.

Mingo and Joseph are facing a charge alleges that on March 13, 2020, they uttered a forged document purporting to be a true report of all votes cast in the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections, while knowing that the report was forged.

Joseph faces two individual charges, which state that on March 13, 2020, at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, she conspired with Mingo and others to declare a fraudulent count of votes for District Four for both the general and regional elections.

Others Before Court

Also, facing court are sacked former Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; and sacked former Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers.

Lowenfield was slapped with six charges relating to forgery and misconduct in public office.

The charges against Myers allege that between March 4 and March 14, 2020, in Georgetown, while being a public officer, she willfully misconducted herself together with Mingo, and others, to declare a fraudulent account of votes for the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, which amounted to a breach of the public’s trust in the office of the DCEO of GECOM.

Prosecution

Already several boxes containing certified copies of Statements of Polls (SOPs) and Statements of Recount (SORs) from the March 2020 elections have been handed over to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The documents will be used as evidence against those before the court. The SOPs and SORS were accompa -

FROM PAGE 2 nied by statements and video evidence, which included copies of video-recorded interviews the accused had with the Police. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) DPP and Acting Police Commissioner had initiated legal proceedings in the High Court, seeking orders to obtain certified copies of the SOPs and SORs from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, which are currently lodged with the Registrar of the High Court. The decision to move to the High Court came after the Police Commissioner wrote the Registrar of the High Court, Sueanna Lovell, to obtain the certified copies of the documents, but was informed, by way of a letter, this could not be done without an order from the Court.

Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels, and Konyo Sandiford are representing Mingo, Joseph, and Lawrence; while Senior Counsel John Jeremie, and Attorneys-at-Law Eusi Anderson and Latoya Roberts are appearing for the other four defendants. Hughes is also representing Lowenfield and Myers. The Director of Public Prosecutions has hired a team of lawyers to prosecute these cases on the State’s behalf.