Weekend Mirror 23-24 March 2019

23-24 March, 2019 / Vol. 10 No. 65 / Price: $100

Internet: http: //www.mirrornewsgy.com / e-mail: weekendmirror@gmail.com

MARCH 22, 2019

APNU+AFC COALITION GOV’T

ILLEGAL

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

PNCR, AFC refuse to face questions from Guyanese at Town Hall meeting T

he consequences of the no-confidence motion, with specific focus on averting a constitutional crisis, was up for discussion at a Town Hall meeting held at Theater Guild on Saturday (March 16, 2019).

And while all political parties were invited to participate on a panel, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), led by President David Granger, failed to even respond to the matter.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) was also a no-show.

Opposition Chief Whip and People’s Progressive Party Executive, Gail Teixeira, kicked off the discussion on behalf of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). She wasted no time in calling out the PNCR and the AFC – the major political parties in the Coalition Government – in failing to face Guyanese in an open discussion.

She said, “We are at a very critical juncture as a country. The President’s (on Friday, March 15, 2019) address tries to whitewash the crisis we are facing…we are five days away from the constitutional deadline of March 21…we are on the precipice of a constitutional crisis.”

According to her, December 21, 2018 marked the first time that a no-confidence motion was debated and passed in the National Assembly. According to her, during the constitutional reform process, when the no-confidence provision was included, a timeline of three months was named because of the capacity of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to deliver General and Regional Elections in three months. “This claim that GECOM cannot deliver elections in three months is a fallacy,” Teixeira declared.

According to her, after March 21, 2019, there can be no convening of the National Assembly to extend the March 21, 2019 deadline.

“We are going into uncharted waters…it is very clear that the Government wants to consume as much time in office as possible,” she said.

On the question of ‘what can we do as a people’, she charged that, historically, it was the voice and activism of the Guyanese people that defended democracy in Guyana. “What we have is a situation that we will have a dictatorship after March 21, 2019,” Teixeira declared.

Asked about the PPP/C

willingness to collaborate with the Coalition Government, she said, “To avert the constitutional crisis, we offered to Mr. Granger, on March 4 via a letter and on March 6 at a meeting, an option…we said that we were willing to support an extension…we were saying that if Elections were held on or before April 30, 2019, we would support an extension...what we were met with is silence…we have done our part…we have been reasonable….every indication from this Government, however, is one where House-toHouse registration is being pushed and that would take us to February 2020.”

GRANGER COULD HAVE ACTED According to her, the President had an opportunity to act and avert the constitutional crisis. She explained that on the weekend of March 10, 2019 – in line of the proposal made by the PPP/C – the President had only to proclaim a date for General and Regional Elections, which would have been officially gazetted on Monday, March 11, 2019 – and GECOM could have kicked their preparations into gear. She stressed that if this was the case, GECOM could have held Elections on April 29, 2019. “We are not sitting here doing nothing.

We are not sitting here being academic…we made a proposal to the President,” she said.

As of Saturday, March 16, 2019, there were five days to the March 21, 2019 deadline, and Teixeira clarified that the President “has no power” to set a date for a sitting of the National Assembly – rather he goes through the Leader of Government business in the National Assembly to have that

“We are not sitting here doing nothing. We are not sitting here being academic…we made a proposal to the President.”

– PPP Executive, Gail Teixeira done. “There is a section of the Standing Order that says, if the Speaker is called on by a section of Members of the House, to have a special sitting, the Speaker can consider that request,” she said.

She added, “…my own personal view is that after March 21, the government is unconstitutional. However, strictly hypothetical, were the President to make and offer and were the Opposition to agree, there could be a mechanism found to convene a special sitting, but again this is all hypothetical….as of today there is no indication of a date for elections.”

Teixeira also decried the move by Granger to “dance” around what is his responsibility to name a 21date for Elections. She explained that Granger, instead, has insisted that he is waiting on GECOM to indicate its readiness for Elections before he can name and election date, while GECOM insists that it needs a date for elections before it can ready itself. “As of now, this is the dance that is going on,” she said.

On questions about the Voters’ List, the PPP Executive explained that under normal times, when a Voters’ List has expired, there can be continuous registration and a claims and objections period. “Under normal circumstances, on April 30, when it expires, GECOM would have gone to continuous registration and a claims and objections period, automatically…in November 2018, for the Lo-

cal Government Elections, GECOM produced an entire Voters’ List for the entire country…political parties had that months before to go and check and we, in the PPP, did that. I assume that the PNC did that too…no one complained about the list…what is clear is that the issue of the Voters’ List has become a tool for delaying Elections…almost 80 per cent of the voters on the Voters’ List went to vote in November 2018 and no one complained about the count or about their names being left off – these are the facts. You cannot wait four months later and now, suddenly, say the Voters’ List is now a problem…again I say, if there was no motion of no-confidence, at April 30, 2019, GECOM would have moved to continuous registration and claims and objections,” she said.

POLITICAL SOLUTION NEEDED PPP/C Parliamentarian, Juan Edghill, also spoke and underscored the fact that the situation at hand is a political issue. “A political action saw the passage of the no-confidence motion…this demands a political solution and the political solution is General and Regional Elections,” he said.

He stressed too that while some political players are calling for constitutional reform – making this their major issue – constitutional reform cannot trump the need for constitutional com-

pliance. “We must have constitutional compliance,” he said, adding that the PPP/C has made clear their position on constitutional reform.

Earlier this year, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, reiterated that the PPP/C will commit to a broad-based process that addresses constitutional reform. “Whatever comes out of that process, we will respect it…there is a great deal of arrogance in specifying, as a party, what you want to do in the area of constitutional reform without testing it with the people first,” he said.

Moving forward, according to him, will see the PPP/C engaging in peaceful protest actions after March 21, 2019 – at which time the Granger-led Government becomes unconstitutional, illegal and illegitimate.

Other political parties represented included the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and A New and United Guyana (ANUG). The Party representatives of LJP and ANUG were Sean Dublin and Timothy Jonas. They were asked specifically if they would protest the illegal nature of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government after March 21, 2019. Jonas said, “We will not break the law.”

Dublin said, “The Liberty and Justice Party agrees that the no-confidence motion was carried and Chief Justice’s ruling must be upheld…the question about street protests, if it is necessary then yes.”

Political commentator, Christopher Ram, was also included on the panel. He charged that the December 21, 2018 passage of the no-confidence motion should have immediately resulted in a move by President Granger. He cited Articles 106 (6) and 106 (7). Article 106 (6)

of the Constitution states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.” Article 106 (7) goes on to state that: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

“Come March 21, Guyana will be among an infamous group of nations… the current government will hold office as usurpers…we cannot tolerate a situation where constitutional order is violated,” he said.

Ram noted that the Coalition Government, specifically AFC Executive and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has touted the doctrine of necessity. However, he charged that the basic tenets of the doctrine of necessity do not match up with the current state of affairs. As such, that argument is baseless.

“I am advocating any and every legitimate form of protest and legal action to preserve the Constitution…we, the people, are not without power…there is no precedent for this (current situation)….you have the entire civil society saying the Constitution is being violated,” he said, when asked.

The Town Hall meeting was organised by Reform, Inform, Sustain, Educate (RISE) Guyana Inc. - a non-governmental organization.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

Positions from the Office of the Opposition Leader Granger abdicated his responsibility to name a date for General and Regional Election ‒ sole responsibility for constitutional crisis lies with APNU+AFC Coalition

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he Office of the Leader of the Opposition notes the Address to the Nation

by President David Granger, on the afternoon of March 15, 2019 – an address that repeats the fallacies and fictions that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has been peddling since the December 21, 2018 passage of the no-confidence motion.

To recognize the pattern of duplicity and the peddling of fallacies and fictions, Guyanese have to go back to the night of December 21, 2019, where there was initial acceptance by President Granger and his Government of the consequences that were triggered by the passage of the no-confidence motion. The Coalition, in bad faith, then backpedalled on its initial comments. Fallacies and fictions, as well as excuses, became the new order of the day.

In President Granger’s address to the nation, one of the first fallacies repeated relates to funding for GECOM. The President says GECOM may need additional “resources” for the conduct of General and Regional Elections, when the Fiscal Management and Accountability (FMAA) (Amendment) Act 2015, which he signed off on in August 2015, makes it clear that GECOM can use sums from the $5.731B appropriation to conduct Elections. Also, Article 222A of the Constitution says: “In order to assure the independence of the entities listed in the Third Schedule – (a) the expenditure of each of the entities shall be financed as a direct charge on the Consolidated Fund, determined by a lump sum by way of an annual subvention approved by the National Assembly… (b) each entity shall manage its subvention in such manner as it deems fit for the efficient discharge of its functions, subject only to conformity with the financial practices and procedures approved by the National Assembly to ensure accountability.” Further, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, on November 19, 2019, during the consideration of the 2019 budget for GECOM, said: “Mr Chairman, the sum of $5,371, 061,000 is given as a lump

sum to GECOM to use as it sees fit and as it prioritizes.”

The President also insists that his Government has respected the judiciary.

However, the January 31, 2019, Chief Justice’s (ag) ruling which made clear that that “cabinet stood resigned” continues to be disregarded.

The Chief Justice (ag) ruled that: “I therefore find that Cabinet is not required to resign with all convenient speed, as the resignation under Article 106(6), in my view, takes immediate effect following the defeat of the Government in a vote of confidence by a majority of all elected members of the National Assembly. In this case, Cabinet must be taken to have resigned with immediate effect from the evening of December 21, 2018, and all functions or duties provided in any law to be performed specifically by Cabinet must have ceased from that time.”

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, on February 15, 2019, announced that “ministerial plenaries are chaired by the President and includes all of the ministers and therefore has all of the powers that a Cabinet can have.”

The Chief Justice also ruled that: “The President and the Ministers cannot therefore remain in Government beyond the three months within which elections are required to be held in accordance with Article 106 Sub Article 7 unless that time is enlarged by the National Assembly in accordance with the requirements of said Article 106 Sub Article 7.” Therefore, the President’s claim that his government “continues to comply” with the ruling of the Chief Justice (ag) is another fallacy.

Additionally, the President insists that the legal challenges were not “calculated to frustrate the implications of the no-confidence vote” it is clear that the cases advanced represent an abuse of the judicial process. The President claims that the Government’s move to legal action was a move to bring clarity to “contentious” issues. On this point, it must be underscored that: • Prior to the vote on the no-confidence motion, the Government claimed

that their 33 votes would be enough to protect it – after the vote, questionable mathematics relative to 33 not being a majority of 65 found its way into government’s legal arguments; and • Prior to the vote on the no-confidence motion, Charandass Persaud’s votes were validated by the Coalition Government itself – after the vote, the legitimacy of Charandass Persaud sitting in Parliament found its way into government’s legal arguments.

The President refers to the January 3, 2019 ruling of House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, selectively, to suggest that the Speaker directed the Government to approach the Court. What he fails to admit is that the Speaker refused to reverse his December 21, 2018 ruling (after a ‘request’ made by the Coalition Government) and said: “…a Court of competent jurisdiction will place beyond doubt any question which may exist and serve to give guidance to the Speaker and to the National Assembly for the FUTURE.” The Legislature upheld the validity of the vote on the no-confidence motion.

The President also quotes Article 106 (7) as grounds to claim that he and his Ministers “remain in office” constitutionally. The President fails, here again, to admit that the Explanatory Memorandum, on Page 15, of Bill 14 of 2000 – Constitution (Amendment) – said: “Clause 5 alters Article 106 to provide for the resignation of Cabinet and the President

following the defeat of the Government in the National Assembly on a vote of confidence. Although defeated the Government shall remain in office FOR THE PURPOSE OF HOLDING AN ELECTION.” To claim that “the Constitution contemplates continuity of the Government” is yet another fiction being peddled by Granger. Therefore, if – as the President claims – the Government “is conducting its affairs in accordance with the Constitution” of Guyana, we would not be on the precipice of a constitutional crisis.

IT IS NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL. The President’s claim that he has urged the “readiness” of GECOM to conduct “credible elections at the earliest possible time” runs contrary to the actions of Coalition-appointed GECOM Commissioners, who have been insisting on National House to House registration – a process that would delay Elections until 2020 – and Congress Place, where a call for ‘war’ in every Region was issued. He also contradicts himself when he comments on the need for a sanitized Voters’ List – a list that was used without complaint less than four months ago for Local Government Elections.

Clearly, the holding of General and Regional Elections is not of paramount importance for the Granger-led Government. For the President to claim that he is acting responsibly, not recklessly, because he did not receive “guidance” from GECOM to

allow him to proclaim a date for Elections – having met with GECOM on March 8, 2019 – is another fiction, as that meeting largely focused on national House-to-House Registration. It must be noted, that at the very March 8, 2019 meeting, the President rejected a work plan from the Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioners, which contemplated the holding of General and Regional Elections on April 29, 2019. The President has insisted that he is waiting on GECOM to be ready, while his own Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, has said that GECOM is waiting on the President to name a date before it can begin to ready itself for Elections.

The President’s comments on the issue of GECOM underscore the duplicity with which he continues to act on this issue.

This duplicity is evidenced when the President claims that GECOM is “insulated from political interference” – when, in fact, it is none other than the President who violated the balance of GECOM by unilaterally appointing a GECOM Chairman and transforming GECOM into a partisan body that dances to the tune of his Government.

GECOM’s partisan actions were evidenced when, initially, the GECOM Secretariat, on December 27, 2018, declared that it would be ready to deliver Elections, yet weeks later, backpedalled on that position.

The Office of the Opposition Leader maintains that President Granger abdicated his responsibility to name a date for General and Regional Election when he, without

New US Ambassador engages Opposition leader The newly-accredited United States of America (USA) Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, paid a courtesy call on the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, MP, on Friday (March 15, 2019), at his Church Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, office.

constitutional cover, hides behind GECOM and says that it is the Commission that must determine an elections date. GECOM is subservient to the Constitution. The President talks about “collaboration” but has not acted in good faith when engaging the Parliamentary Opposition.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, proposed an option that would have seen Elections being held on or before April 30, 2019 – and made clear that if the proposal was accepted the Opposition would support an extension of the Government’s life in office. This was rejected by President Granger.

The Office also reiterates that the life of the Coalition Government can only be extended by a two-thirds vote in the National Assembly. If there is no such vote, the life of the Government ends; the maximum timeline set by the Constitution (three months after the passage of the no confidence motion) will have expired. The clock has been ticking since December 21, 2018, and there has been no stay of that timeline by the Court.

After March 21, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government becomes unconstitutional, illegitimate and illegal. Sole responsibility for the impending constitutional crisis rests with President Granger and his government.

The President’s failure to address the fundamental issues has been addressed by the Parliamentary Opposition, repeatedly. The Guyanese people have witnessed the disparity between the platitudes offered and the actions of the Granger-led Government.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

Guest

EDITORIAL

Guyana’s democracy is at stake

APNU+AFC'S hypocrisy exposed

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Dear Editor,

he Parliamentary Opposition would be complicit in an illegality if it did not – as it has been doing – vociferously object to the APNU+AFC Coalition Government’s expressed willingness to breach the Constitution of Guyana, which they swore an oath to uphold.

These objections include the call for peaceful protests against a specifically named group – President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and the APNU+AFC Coalition Government – whenever they visit communities. There has been much hullabaloo about the PPP General Secretary’s call for Guyanese to “chase them out” – them being the specifically named group. However, the call made by the PPP General Secretary was clear – Guyanese must reject the unconstitutional, illegal and illegitimate government come March 22, 2019.

For the detractors who persist in their misrepresentations of the “chase them out” comment – there is only one question that must be asked, where were you when the People’s National Congress (PNC) advocated for ‘slow fiah, moh fiah’?

The message from detractors also include a misrepresentation of the state of affairs, relative to the role of the Guyana Elections Commission. This is despite the repetition of FACTS, not only by the Parliamentary Opposition, but also by civil society.

So what are the facts? Granger should have immediately moved into action mode after the no-confidence motion was passed on December 21, 2018. Parliament should have been dissolved and a date for Elections should have been set.

Instead, Granger insists that GECOM needs to be ready for Elections before he can set a date; while GECOM insists that it needs to have a date before it can be ready for Elections. GECOM’s actions finds itself complicit with the Granger-cabal’s attempt to remain in office, while in breach of the Constitution.

GECOM has delivered Elections in less than three months before. The 2015 Elections were held 72 days after Parliament was dissolved. Rather than comply with its constitutional mandate, GECOM, with its unilaterally appointed Chairman and its three government-nominated Commissioners have, is not politically influenced.

Most all Guyanese have grasped the fact that what is at stake right now is Guyana’s democracy and the hard-won gain that have been made since the return of free and fair elections and democratic rule in 1992. Guyana must now be allowed to return to the dark days, pre-1992, where the mandate to govern came from fear and force – not free and fair elections.

A

number of APNU+AFC Ministers were prominently present and a number of them spoke at the ceremonial opening of the $US40M MOVIE TOWNE complex at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara. As a former PPP Minister, I was proud to see the dream and the vision for MOVIETOWNE a reality in Guyana. I was a member of the Cabinet when this project was formulated and when this project was initiated. I had fully expected the opening to have occurred much earlier, but, in spite of unnecessary red tapes and roadblocks in the last four years, the project is now finally reality. The MOVIE TOWNE owners must be commended for their commitment to Guyana, a commitment reflected by their unflinching perseverance in the face of some serious roadblocks.

While investment by local entrepreneurs is indispensable for development, international investors are critical for the economic and social development of our country. Guyana and the Guyanese people benefit when there is investor confidence which is strengthened when an investment started under one government is allowed to be completed without undue hardships and roadblocks under another government. The MOVIETOWNE investors came in as part of a deliberate development plan by the PPP and is now finished and functioning, even with a change of Government.

Hopefully, this will become endemic in Guyana and bad-faith roadblocks will not be imposed just because an investment was initiated under a previous government.

Guyanese from all political sides, all races, from everywhere in Guyana, are excited with the emergence of MOVIETOWNE. The owners are from Trinidad Guyanese and own a similar venture in Trinidad and other CARICOM countries. But consensus is that MOVIETOWNE, Guyana is even better than its Trinidad counterparts.

As Guyanese, we must be eternally grateful that Mr. Derek Chin and his business chose Guyana to invest in and, in spite of any present anxiety about the political situation in Guyana and the challenges they faced over the last four years, I am certain that MOVIETOWNE will be successful in our country.

MOVIETOWN success in Guyana will encourage the owners to make further investment in our country and will be an example for other CARICOM investors

to make Guyana a destination for their investments.

While relieved that MOVIETOWNE has finally become reality, I was simultaneously amused and flummoxed by the excitement and glee expressed by the representatives of the Government who were present at the ceremonial opening of MOVIETOWNE last Thursday night.

I was amazed at the hypocrisy they displayed as they wined and dined at the opening, taking credit for a project they once demeaned and rejected. Three senior government ministers spoke - Ministers Harmon, Greenidge and Gaskin.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordon, was also present and I am told others were there too. Those who spoke on behalf of the government gave specific reasons for their excitement.

The Ministers praised the investors for bringing a high-quality, a high-brand entertainment and shopping experience to our country. They boasted that MOVIETOWN will be a top competitor and catalyst in transforming the entertainment and recreational sector, shopping and service industry of Guyana, giving a much-needed boast for tourism, etc.

The Ministers boasted of the initial employment of about 1,000 Guyanese and many more in the future. The senior government ministers were not shy in ‘bigging up’ MOVIETOWNE because, in the words of Minister of Business, Dominick Gaskin, MOVIETOWNE will be "good for business, crate jobs and generate taxes". They spoke of the government's push for investors by creating an investor friendly environment, providing access to land and concessions that catalyzes investor confidence. I could not agree more with the Ministers that represented Guyana at the MOVIETOWNE opening.

The reasons the government ministers were present and the reasons for their excitement were exactly the reasons used several years ago when the PPP Government lured Mr. Derek Chin and the MOVIETOWNE brand to Guyana. These very reasons, however, did not find favor with the then Opposition parties, APNU and the AFC. In Parliament, both Carl Greenidge and Joe Harmon as Opposition MPs were among the APNU and AFC MPs who opposed the project, lambasting the proposed project, claiming the PPP was giving a handout to a rich Trinidadian friend.

Once APNU+AFC took control of the Government, they became spiteful and imposed roadblocks and unnecessary red tapes to delay the project. They

claimed that the Trinidadian investor should have paid more for the land, even though the Trinidadian investor paid more than other investors in the vicinity and paid more than anyone else had offered for the same land. For example, the Trinidadian investor did not pay less than the Giftland Mall investor for land that is less than a mile away. APNU+AFC brought in SOCU and directed SOCU to issue charges against the former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and the former head of NICIL, Winston Brassington. Earlier, they threatened to rescind the sale of the land.

At the opening of MOVIETOWNE, the senior government ministers, in their boasting and in taking credit for the project, provided powerful defense for Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington, even though they hardly intended to. But, by boasting of the quality of the investment, the advantages for Guyana, including job creation, setting new standards for the entertainment and shopping experience and generating more tax revenues, they provided the argument why any Government should have been eager to allow MOVIETOWNE to purchase the land, even if the purchase price was much lower than MOVIETOWN actually paid. Guyana benefitted because of the reasons the ministers eloquently gave in their presentations at the opening, but Guyana gained also because, instead of getting the land at a nominal cost, as a concession for their investment, MOVIE TOWNE actually paid market, competitive price for the land.

The Ministers spoke the truth at the opening, spoke truth to power.

The MOVIETOWNE investment and project in Guyana was a good one for our country. In confessing this truth, they also exposed their own hypocrisy, their policy of intimidation and political harassment. They demonstrated in no uncertain terms that Dr. Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington, as senior officials of the PPP Government stewarded a sound, major development project that has already rewarded Guyana and the Guyanese people with benefits.

Instead of being charged, Ashni Singh and Brassington deserve praise. MOVIETOWNE should be an example of how we develop Guyana, not for some, but for all.

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

Coalition has done nothing to stimulate job creation in Guyana, current advances stem from PPP/C initiatives

Perverse logic being T peddled suggests that Granger can ignore the Constitution of Guyana

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor

I

respond to this view that is emanating from the President and those on his bandwagon that he remains president until the next president is sworn in. Is President Granger seeking to preach he will be President for life? Because he and his government have not demonstrated any seriousness as it relates to the holding of elections.

Article 106 (6) & (7) says the following: a) the President and cabinet shall resign upon the successful passage of a no-confidence vote. Their final day on the job is 90 days or three months after in this case March 21st 2019 since the no-confidence motion was passed on December 21st 2018. b) they remain in office purely for the purpose of holding an election. Article 106 (7) envisages an election in three months at which time the President shall hand over to the newly elected President. To be defeated by a no-confidence vote and not hold elections within the constitutionally mandated time-frame of three months and in bravado style declare to people of Guyana “I remain the President until the new President is sworn in” is pure nonsense. The President’s henchmen are perfectly correct when they say that the “President should remain in office until the next President is sworn in.”

However, what they omit to mention is that subject to article 106 (7) of the constitution and in keeping with the ruling of the Chief Justice, elections had to be held before 21st March 2019 and a new President sworn in by that date or shortly thereafter.

Their perverse logic seems to suggest that Granger can ignore the Constitution of Guyana, have or not have the election at his will and the people of Guyana must keep him as President. For example, the President can or not hold the election in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 and we must accept him as President. We reject this.

Editor, this Guyanese will publicly declare for the President and his merry band, I will not sit idly by and allow this abuse of power and I encourage all decent, sane, right thinking and independent Guyanese to reject this nonsense and to see this action of the President as a misuse of the trust that was given to him by the people of Guyana in May 2015. President Granger and his government lost their mandate on December 21st 2018. Their only reason for continuing in office was to facilitate the holding of elections and the maintenance of good order.

In, Bill No. 14 of 2000, the EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM, says that Clause

5 alters article 106 to provide for the resignation of the Cabinet and the President following the defeat of the Government in the National Assembly on the vote of confidence. Although defeated the Government shall remain in office for the purpose of holding an election.

They have done everything to frustrate the holding of elections. We don’t have a date and we are six days away from the constitutionally mandated deadline.

The only business that this President and his ministers’ should be engaged in, is ensuring elections are held, it’s not business as usual. Any attempt to stay in power beyond March 21st can be deemed a reckless and irresponsible action by this Government. This claim that the doctrine of necessity kicks in can be deemed an absurdity and to date the most visible act of desperation. The constitution never contemplated a defeated government remaining in office beyond ninety days without a twothirds majority of the National Assembly.

That is to say, the opposition that defeated you facilitating an extension beyond ninety days, because of some reasonable and rational ground. No such grounds exist; it is clear for all to see the intention of the APNU+AFC coalition Government was not to have elections by March 21st. So whether it was the National Assembly, the Courts or GECOM, they sought a refugee.

GECOM with its unilaterally appointed chairman and the three government-sponsored commissioners have provided that much-needed smoke screen. We are not allowing this asinine behaviour from GECOM. For the purpose of all Guyanese, the constitution envisages a GECOM on any of the three eventualities: a) a no-confidence vote b) the president at any time during the five-year term proclaiming a dissolution of the national assembly on calling a national election and c) the end of the five-year cycle of the National Assembly.

On every occasion, elections is to be held within three months. Stop the charade, the “mamaguying” and the bravado behaviour, call elections now. On March 22nd you are illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional; you will no longer be the President Mr Granger.

Editor while at it may I express my utter disgust at the misuse of state resources that funds the DPI which have now become the propaganda and political attack arm of this coalition government. Further erosion of governmental institutions and a harsh return to party paramountcy is evident.

Yours truly, Bishop Juan A. Edghill, PPP/C MP

he current state of affairs necessitate a restatement of certain facts pertaining to the current materialization of job opportunities via several major investments and projects in Guyana.

With over 30,000 jobs lost over almost four years under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, the question must be asked: What has the Coalition done to stimulate job creation in Guyana? What investments produced the job creation that Guyanese have benefited from recently?

In dealing with the latter first, hundreds of Guyanese have benefited from job opportunities that have been created as a result of work done by the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government.

In the area of projects, work on the East Coast Demerara Road and the West Coast Demerara Road, are only two of the major projects that stimulated job creation.

Incentivized multi-million dollar investments deals negotiated by the PPP/C, which also stimulated job creation, include: • First Bauxite; • Reunion Manganese; • Guyana Goldfields; • Troy Resources; • Teleperformance; • Qualfon; • Santa Fe Farms; • Marriot Hotel; • Texilla; • Giftland; and • MovieTowne Editor, the opening of MovieTowne took place on Thursday, March 15, 2019, and to my surprise, four APNU+AFC Coalition Government Ministers graced the event with their presence. Editor, this is the same project that was met with delays because of the APNU+AFC Coalition. The headlines that made the news a few months ago were clear: ‘Foreign Investor blames Government for delay in MovieTowne opening’ (June 12, 2018 – Newsroom); ‘MovieTowne owner decries red tape in US$40M Turkeyen investment’ (June 13, 2018 – Kaieteur News); and ‘Gov’t ordered to pay TPL $1.7B in damages over Turkeyen land’ (April 21, 2019 – Stabroek News). Yet, Ministers Joseph Harmon, Winston Jordan, Carl Greenidge, and Dominic Gaskin all talked up the investment during Thursday’s opening.

Is the Coalition Government not shameless?

I have to also point out that, the land sale on which MovieTowne was built – an investment that is now being talked up by the Coalition – is the same land deal that former Minister, Ashni Singh, and former National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Head, Winston Brassington, were charged for. Will the charges now be dropped since top Coalition Government Ministers now tout the merits of the investment?

Editor, I also must point out that in addi-

tion to the projects that were envisioned and started by the former PPP/C government, as well as the investments that were successfully pursued, the Coalition Government inherited over US$500M in concessional resources secured to finance development initiatives, including: • US$130M from China Exim Bank to construct a new international airport; • US$66.2M from Inter-American Development Bank to fund a road network upgrade and expansion project; • US$64.6M from Inter-American Development Bank and European Union to fund a power utility upgrade programme; • US$50M from India Exim Bank to fund the East Coast to East Bank bypass road – a project that has not even stared as yet; • US$34.4M from the Caribbean Development Bank to fund the West Coast Demerara highway upgrade project; • US$31.7M from Inter-American Development Bank and European Union to fund a water and sanitation infrastructure improvement project; • US$15M from Inter-American Development Bank for a new citizen security project; • US$12M from the World Bank for a flood risk management project; • US$10M from the World Bank for a new secondary education improvement project; • US$10M from the World Bank for the UG science and technology support project; and • US$7.5M from the Caribbean Development Bank to fund a sugar industry mechanization project.

All of these developments provide ample testimony to the stewardship of the Guyanese economy discharged by successive PPP/C government, and the strong position of the economy, as the PPP/C demitted office.

Even Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas sector was the vision of the PPP/C. ExxonMobil came to Guyana under the PPP/C. Oil was found in Guyana under the PPP/C. Editor, returning to the first question I asked - What has the Coalition done to stimulate job creation in Guyana? – the answer is clear. Nothing. There has been no major new project to stimulate job creation.

There has been no major new foreign direct investment to stimulate job creation. Their policies have resulted in the loss of jobs. The David Granger-led Coalition Government is bereft of ideas and have instead advanced initiatives that were envisioned and started by the former PPP/C Coalition Government.

The Coalition Government, for almost four years, have busied themselves untying bows and cutting ribbons on PPP/C gifts.

With the increasing likelihood of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government being illegal after March 21, 2019, the resultant increase in loss of jobs is to be expected, as is the deleterious impact on the local economy.

Sincerely, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop

6

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

GECOM should have been primed for elections since announcement of no-confidence motion

GECOM is clearly taking its instructions from I Granger and the PNCR

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

M

r David Granger is made out to be above the fray. In the chat groups, even ‘neutral’ persons say that it’s not his fault there is corruption in this current Government. In particular, the Ministers are blamed for everything; from the drugs bond scandal to the Durban Park fiasco.

The list of woes of this Government is too long to be encapsulated in one letter; or, for that matter, in one paper. It all started with a vulgar increase in salaries for the Government members. Was Mr Granger NOT aware of this? Did he NOT sanction this vulgarity? OF COURSE HE DID! The Drugs Bond fiasco: a minister was removed and given another ministry, maybe giving the impression that he was culpable.

But then the same Government continued to pay to a supporter tens of millions of dollars for the rental of a bottom house. Was Mr Granger NOT aware of this? Did he NOT sanction this vulgarity? OF COURSE HE DID! Every single misdeed of this Government has to be laid directly at the feet of Granger, President of Guyana. If he is not culpable, then why did he do nothing about it? He is definitely not above the fray.

The latest fiasco, in which he is trying to say, “Oh, it’s not me!” Elections!

Can Granger, President of Guyana, tell this nation and me why the Guyanese taxpayer gives GECOM BILLIONS of dollars EVERY year, if not for them to be READY at all times? What are they doing, sleeping and collection money until elections? What salary is Patterson, Chairman of GECOM, collecting? What is the salary of the CEO, Deputy CEO and all the highly paid officials

of GECOM? Why are we paying them if NOT to be ready at ALL TIMES? Or at least to be ready in 3 months? That’s what our constitution says – Elections MUST be held within 90 days of a successful no-confidence motion!

Granger, President of Guyana, does not have the capacity, it seems, to be separate from Granger, the leader and strongman of the PNC! This is a travesty in itself. As PNC strongman, he looks out for his party, but as PRESIDENT of Guyana, he MUST look out for ALL Guyanese and all of Guyana. He must, first and foremost, uphold the Constitution of Guyana. He is definitely not doing that. He often said his idol is Forbes Burnham, and he seems to have re-established the paramountcy of the PNC. GECOM is clearly taking its instructions from him and his party! He, the PNC strongman/President, chose a biased person to be chairman of GECOM. This was proven over and over and over by the way the chairman uses his casting vote — always in favour of the PNC. So GECOM is no longer balanced, it is 4 PNC and 3 PPP/C! Mr Granger, history will judge you harshly. Your attempts at ignoring the Constitution of our fair land and not performing your duty as President will be recorded for posterity, and your name will always be tarnished! Your antics and tricks will be dissected in classrooms, and students of history and democracy will be taught how not to behave in politics in a democracy.

You still have a chance to do the right thing by the Constitution and by the Guyanese people! Just DO IT! History will be the judge!

Sincerely, Vishwa Mahadeo

t has been a constant concern of mine, since all the controversy has surfaced, concerning whether GECOM can be ready to effectively manage the conduct of National and Regional elections, within the time stipulated by the Constitution, but specifically in this case, with respect to the successful passage of a No Confidence Motion.

I assume that those in charge of this highly sensitive and important Constitutional entity, would have above average managerial skills, at the helm, to enable them to manage such a Commission.

I also assume that these managers would be knowledgeable, familiar and aware of every aspect of GECOM’s responsibilities and be in a state of readiness to carry out these responsibilities under all and any circumstances.

Even though much has been written and said on the failure by GECOM to comply with their responsibilities, I cannot recall any argument that can convince anyone that they have done so. My reference to GECOM refers almost entirely to the arbitrarily selected Chairman and the Chief Election Officer, (CEO) Mr. Lowenfield, formerly a senior officer of the Guyana Defence Force.

My argument is that the date December 22nd should not be used as the date for GECOM to “quick March”, but immediately upon the public announcement that the No Confidence Motion would have been tabled in Parliament.

I understand that the Motion was tabled on November 15th and passed on -December 21st.

GECOM, as said before (being always prepared for all and any eventualities) should have immediately on the tabling of the Motion (and possibly even before, ie. upon the notice by the Leader of the Opposition of his intention) should have started to put the necessary systems in place to have the elections held within the time frame stipulated by the provisions of the Constitution. I do not for one moment believe that they were not

aware of their Constitutional responsibilities.

Further, should we go through the mathematical calculation (hopefully no controversy is involved with this) it would have been one hundred and twenty six days from November 15th to March 21st. which is obviously in excess of the ninety days stipulated by the Constitution.

Further, add the thirty days in April, to take the elections to the end of the list validity (April 30) would give one hundred and fifty six days.

It was the CEO who is reported to have said that GECOM could have been ready to have credible elections in a maximum of one hundred and forty eight days.

Others, including the former Chairman and the Deputy CEO have also pronounced on this as well as the current list being usable for National and Regional Elections, possibly with a period for claims and objections, to remove persons who have died and on the list and other ineligible persons.

It is indeed difficult not to come to the conclusion that the reasons and excuses being given for GECOM not being ready to manage and conduct credible elections are all contrived to keep the Government in office beyond the date stipulated by the Constitution.

If, as is being claimed (and which has nothing to do with GECOM being in a state of readiness) that matters are being argued in the courts, surely there was enough time to have these matters disposed of by now.

I remember quite recently where the CCJ listened to arguments and gave a decision on a Sunday, to allow someone to vote in elections on the Monday following.

Mr Ramjattan’s arguments on “ necessity” should have been more properly used in this instance.

Finally, passing the ball between GECOM and the President with neither shooting for the goal is purely defensive play which fools no one.

Yours faithfully, Harry Nawbatt

There is a pattern of cynical ploys by gov’t-nominated Commissioners, Granger’s handpicked Chairman to delay the elections Dear Editor,

G

ECOM and the Ministry of Finance seem to be engaged in an effort to mislead the public of Guyana over the availability and use of funds approved in the 2019 Budget to conduct elections pursuant to the March 21 vote of No Confidence. Putting up one road block after another, it was not until the middle of February – around the halfway stage of the three-month deadline mandated for the holding of elections – did GECOM seem to need clarification on whether or not it could spend any part of the 2019 allocation of $5,371,061,000 on the elections.

An article in the Stabroek News of February 19, 2019 which quotes Finance Ministry officials, is headlined “GECOM needs parliamentary approval to use budget for new polls.” That this is not true goes charitably to the question of competence and the ability of the Ministry’s officials to read and understand, or more sinisterly, to its intention to become part of the conspiracy by elements of GECOM to frustrate the vote of the National

Assembly.

Following a 2015 amendment to the Schedule to the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, GECOM does not qualify as a Budget Agency and any question about any restriction on the variation of its 2019 appropriation does not arise. This much was confirmed by Finance Minister Winston Jordan at the 99th sitting of the National Assembly held on Monday, 19th November, 2018 at which both Ministry and GECOM officials were present in the Assembly. Did they not hear when Jordan, in answer to a question from Mr. Mustapha from the PPP/C, announced in unambiguous language (yes, there is still such a thing in Guyana) that “The sum of $5,371,061,000 is given as a lump sum to GECOM to use as it sees fit and as it prioritises.”

In other words, there is no need to go back to the National Assembly or to trigger some virement as suggested by GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander. It is becoming increasingly obvious that there is a pattern of cynical ploys by the Government-nominated

Commissioners and President Granger’s handpicked Chairman to delay the elections even if it means committing a breach of a constitutional duty for which they each bear personal responsibility.

As to the use of funds by GECOM, the Finance Ministry is fully aware that the Constitution provides for a Contingencies Fund, administered by the Minister of Finance, of up to a total of two percent of the estimated annual expenditure of the last preceding fiscal year. Table 1 of the 2019 Estimates of the Public Sector titled Summary of Revenue and Expenditure of the Central Government for the year 2018 was $270 billion so 2% of that would be $5.4 billion.

And as to GECOM’s readiness and any comparisons with previous elections, we need to understand context – Guyana came close to but never actually had to have elections under Article 106 (7) following a vote of no confidence. This imposes a duty on the President to call such elections by way of a Proclamation (Article 61) and on GECOM a mandate to independently supervise those

elections (Article 62). The reason for the mandatory outside time is because the Government has been reduced to one principal purpose, the holding of elections as set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to Bill 14 of 2000 which was passed unanimously by the National Assembly and enacted as Act 17 of 2000.

Further on GECOM’s readiness, I reminded the public in a previous letter, that said six days after the No Confidence vote, GECOM announced that it was ready and able to discharge its constitutional duty. That changed however when the PNCR sent its signals and used its functionaries in GECOM to stall the elections. GECOM has not been able to convince anyone that a list good for the Local Elections in November 2018 and that remains valid up to April 2019 is somehow unfit for general and regional elections by March 21.

Instead of playing games with the Constitution and GECOM, if the President so wanted, he could have sought the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition to have an (Turn to page 7)

7

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

Granger cannot arbitrarily ‘diss’ what the Constitution says Dear Editor,

T

he diplomatic and donor community must be looking on with bated breath at the developing situation in Guyana as it self-propels towards a constitutional crisis.

The situation is made even more comical with a recent epistle by ‘one of Guyana’s leading legal minds’ who claimed: “… The court could rely on the doctrine of necessity and give such extensions as are required in the circumstances…far as I am concerned, there is no constitutional crisis except in the imaginations of one or another Charlatan who, at the end of the day are incapable of giving a rational and consistent construction of the Constitution.”

The implication here is that those, including Ralph Ramkarran, Anil Nandlall, Christopher Ram and the Editors of independent media houses who, thus far, have alerted the nation to an impending constitutional crisis are ‘charlatans and incapable of giving a rational and consistent construction of the Constitution.’

Three cheers for Mr. Maxwell Edwards, only he can, gloomy forecasts notwithstanding.

To the layman, no court is above the constitution. The constitution is supreme. The court must follow what the constitution says.

President Granger swore to uphold the constitution. He cannot arbitrarily ‘diss’ what the constitution says. He must obey what he swore to uphold.

Since the constitution says elections must be held in 90 days, then so be it. And if GECOM has housekeeping issues that need to be resolved then it must solve those issues with the 90 day time frame allotted to it by the constitution. End of story!

The President invited the entire Commission to meet with him because he wanted to telegraph to the public that the Commission is divided. He got exactly what he wanted and went away with a wry smile on his face.

There is much talk about a day of reckoning come March 21, and questions are being asked whether those military veterans who currently hold office, and tend to be conservative, can rebalance an economy tilted on the downside and, become believers in democratic governance.

The preponderance of a phenomenon known as ‘Confirmation Bias’ has now become a potent weapon in the hands of the leadership of the APNU+ AFC, and is currently being used to mislead and misguide its supporters.

When their followers are being told that the political opposition and others have it all wrong in respect to government’s obligations with the passage of the No Confidence Motion (NCM) as well as the prospects of a constitutional crisis, they tend to block out ideas, facts or data that don’t coincide with what they were told by Mr. Granger and company and as a consequence, fall victim to the ‘Confirmation Bias’ syndrome.

Differences over the role and place of GECOM and its competence to produce a credible voters list has been around long before GECOM became GECOM. We only have to cast our minds back to Sir Donald Jackson’s and Sir Harold Bollers’ tenures at the then Elections Commission to understand why Mr Patterson was appointed Chairman of GECOM by President Granger.

Further, the documentary titled, THE TRAIL OF THE VANISHING VOTER’ and the tagging of the Elections Commission by Lord Avebury a ‘Toothless Poodle’ continue to be relevant even as we try to understand why we are where we are today.

On top of this is the failure of the relevant authorities to implement the recommendations to be found in reports by the International Observer Missions and GECOM retreats following elections held in Guyana since 1992.

The call made in an editorial of the Guyana Chronicle in September 2016, headlined, ‘Time to revamp GECOM’ was a wakeup call alerting the nation to the administration’s intention to ditch the Carter Center Formula for selecting a Chairman for GECOM. That call was a harbinger to the jettisoning of the constitutional provision by government causing it to ride roughshod over the supreme law of the land, and to appoint unilaterally, on November 19, 2017 Mr. James Patterson as chairman of GECOM. But this was neither the first nor the last of such unconscionable acts by the coalition administration to violate the Constitution.

It is to be recalled that in mid-November 2017, the President, through Mr. Joseph Harmon had sent a letter to the Police Service Commission directing that all police promotions be halted claiming that ‘complaints had been received about the police.’

On November 23, 2017 the Chief Justice ruled that ‘the directive by the Minister of State was unlawful and a blatant disrespect for the Constitution; similar misdemeanours were committed by Ministers Ramjattan and Broomes.

Broomes had written on May 28, 2015 to

the Public Service Commission directing that ‘all interviews and meetings of the Commission are to cease forthwith until further (sic) as instructed by his Excellency David Arthur Granger’s notice.’

Chief Justice Chang ruled that ‘the directive was in violation of Article 226 of the Constitution and as a consequence was unlawful, null and void and if no legal effect.’

In early June 2015, contrary to the rules of the Police Service Commission and the Constitution, Ramjattan wrote to the then Commissioner of Police instructing him to terminate the service of a senior rank of the Guyana Police Force for his alleged involvement in a torture case.

Under pressure, Ramjattan withdrew his directive, which was proven to be misdirected.

I highlight these examples not only to demonstrate the many instances where the coalition administration violated the constitution in order to achieve its selfish goals, but to emphasize how manipulative it can be, in its determination to achieve a particular outcome by violating the constitution as a means to an end favourable the coalition administration.

The point is, when Mr. Granger invokes such a deceptive narrative that; “Government will not interfere or intrude in the work of GECOM,” his administration cannot be trusted on such matters precisely because his track record reflects quite the opposite as was illustrated earlier.

To believe Mr Granger this time around would be to allow him to get away with saying things that don’t square with the facts nor reality, and to allow him once again, to throw dust in the eyes of the average person.

Mr Granger will behave ‘fit and proper’ when it suits him and then turn around and behave deplorably in other situations.

On the one hand, he would say; “My government would abide by the constitutional requirements following passage of the NCM” and that “My government would do everything to facilitate smooth elections.”

Later, the same President would turn around and claim that the Opposition is “All bluff” and that members of GECOM must go back and “settle their differences and try to come to some reconciliation over a bloated voters list.”

This is cynicism at its best since Mr. Granger knows full well that the Chairman and the three government backed commissioners have instructions that coincide fully with his administration’s interest in dragging-out GECOM’S work plan using House-to-House registration as a subterfuge to achieve that goal which, according to Mr Alexander, “can be concluded by November 2019!”

And as if the cynicism has no limit, only last year, on December 17 to be exact, the President told reporters, “I have full confidence in the elections machinery” and that “I would make sure that nothing is done to have any improperly conducted elections.”

The President went on to say, “I have never rigged an election in my life. I have no intention of ever doing so.” Whether Mr Granger was in a position to rig past elections or not, the point is, there is still a lingering perception that as commander of the GDF in 1972, he was involved when the army took control of the ballot boxes.

Forty-seven years later, Mr. Granger is President of Guyana and leader of the ruling APNU+AFC coalition, that puts him in an advantageous position to influence the outcome of the elections especially in light of a GECOM and an election machinery that is weighted in his favour and, more-so, given the suggestive day to day maneuverings Initiated by his administration.

The coalition administration has publicly stated that the voters list used in the 2015 elections was ‘padded in favour of the PPP/C and, had that list not been padded the Coalition would have won by a wider margin.’

The argument goes that, the new houseto- house registration envisaged will remove the padding favorable to the PPP/C and replace it with a list padded in favour of the APNU+AFC thus enabling it to win the upcoming election by a much wider margin!

This is why the APNU+ AFC so desperately needs time.

Guyanese must prevent this from happening using all legal and constitutional means of struggle through unity of action at all levels on the political, industrial and social fronts.

Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee

There is a pattern of cynical ploys by gov’t-nominated... (From page 6) Article 106 (7) extension to April 30, name an elections date and dissolve the Parliament (which is the National Assembly plus he).

Had he done so, instead of the three months required under Article 106 (7), GECOM would have had four months and one week to prepare for and manage those elections – more than enough time for an effective Claims and Objections exercise to ensure that the List is sufficiently clean to ensure that no one is denied her/his right to vote.

GECOM which has been very selective in its public arrogance, sorry engagement, has so far not acknowledged that in the case of every election, Article 61 allows only three months between the dissolution of the Parliament and the holding of elections. In other words, the three months period required under Article 106 (7) is not an unusual or

contracted period as many people seem to believe. In any case, it is now one hundred and nineteen days since the No Confidence Motion was tabled and eighty two days since the Motion was passed. In that time, all GECOM seems to have done, if its statements are reliable, is to have made a few uninformed, inane and misleading statements.

As to this talk about bloated list, Mr. Alexander is aware that dead people voting died with Burnham and that GECOM, its officials, polling agents and observers have been sufficiently diligent in ensuring that votes are validly cast by legal living voters.

Again I ask, is it comprehension, competence, conspiracy or a combination thereof?

Yours faithfully, C. Ram

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

Coalition government’s action represents Guyana’s worst constitutional transgression Dear Editor,

Coalition insults the intelligence of the Guyanese people Dear Editor,

T

he Granger-led fallen APNU/AFC Coalition Government condescendingly attempts to treat the intelligence of Guyanese and that of the representatives of our associating states with an irrational lack of astuteness and deserving candor.

The reactions of these institutions and states has been through strong and definitive statements of intent regarding the grounds on which they are prepared to co-exist, and this is pivotal to the advancement of democracy.

I and hundreds of thousands of Guyanese at home and in the diaspora welcome the forthrightness and timely statements of the British High Commissioner and the new Ambassador of the United States of America, who have highlighted their country’s recognition of the supremacy of our Constitution, and the need for a framework establishing free and fair elections. We therefore applaud the eminence of many civil society groups who have joined the rallying call for David Granger to stop ‘pussy-footing’ and call Elections in adherence to the Guyana Constitution.

The recent meeting between President Granger and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is nothing but another set of shenanigans aimed at some elaborate pretence and bureaucratic time extensions.

The partial revelations of a necessity for information regarding GECOM’s finances and programme is actually information in the domain of the President as he seeks to take Guyanese for another bureaucratic adventure. It is a known fact that all constitutional agencies are required to provide the Cabinet with monthly reports regarding their plans and utilisation of appropriated funds, and this is accounted for via the IFMAS automated system of the Ministry of Finance.

GECOM’s own position of its role woefully exposes and contradicts President Granger’s abhorrent pronouncements of his

related responsibilities. Details publicly published on its website (http://www.gecom.org. gy/home/about_gecom) state: “GECOM is insulated from executive interference in the performance of its functions.

By virtue of Article 226 of the Constitution, GECOM, like other constitutional Commissions, shall not be subject to the direction and control of any other person or authority.

Schedules for the conduct of general, regional and local government elections are decided upon by the Commission once a date for the election is announced by the President”.

The situation therefore affirms that the Chairman and three APNU/AFC Commissioners are violently contradicting the role of the organisation, and playing games with the Guyanese people. A heightened lack of trust in President Granger and his APNU/ AFC regime exists as a consequence of the volatile nature of responses, which have been most unpredictable.

Never before has there been so many instances of inconsistency by a Government — which are evidenced by public statements, then withdrawals and changes to pronounced positions. It begs answers regarding how one can reasonably make projections with any degree of certainty without having myriad backup plans.

President Granger’s glaring constitutional variances of convenient interpretation resulted in his unilateral appointment of James Patterson as GECOM Chairman. It highlights his intent to hold our country to ransom when necessary, and emphasises a concerted clandestine orchestration — along with his three Commissioners — to manipulate the institution towards the self-serving interest of the fallen coalition Government. The politically appointed Chairman has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt his established untrustworthiness and that of the David Granger lot.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

T

he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) cannot ignore the many concerns that are being expressed, at this time, regarding what will be the state of play following the March 21, 2019 Constitutional deadline regarding the legitimacy of the Coalition Government. For its part, the Federation has seen Government’s attempts to quell the worries that have risen slowly to the brim over the last three (3) months.

Most recently, we have heard from no lesser than President David Granger who in an address to the nation last Friday (March 15) sought to assure the populace that all will be well and that no crisis will be at hand.

Similar sentiments we saw were echoed by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon in remarks he delivered during a function in the United States. From the President’s address we gather that the Administration is intent, using its own Constitutional interpretation, to remain in office though it is regarded that its mandate to remain in office will expireon March 21. We noted that several contentions have been invoked to justify the Administration’s actions. Whether they have legal basis is questionable and we hasten to wonder whether the Administration is being appropriately advised.

The FITUG recognized the President in his address as saying “…there is no legal impediment that restrains the Government from exercising its functions…”. But then we recalled that Chief Justice (a.g.) Roxanne George, in her judgment, had pointed out “The President and the Ministers cannot therefore remain in Government beyond the three months within which elections are required to be held in accordance with art 106(7), unless that time is enlarged by the National Assembly in accordance with the requirements of the said art 106(7).” In view of the Chief Justice’s ruling the FITUG is not convinced that the President’s view is correct.

The Federation recognizes, as it were, that the Government has thrown the ball squarely in the court of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The discourses of that body have now gainedpublic repute and it seems there is no haste on the part of the Commission to deliver elections in keeping with what is constitutionally prescribed. Undoubtedly, such conclusions were not hard to reach as we noted that the Commissioners who emanate from the President’s party are insisting on the conduct of a house-to-house registration exercise. It is our view, that the Commissioners making such calls are merely parroting their party’s position. The public is well aware

of the protests and picketing exercises, led by the President’s party, calling for such an exercise. And, even in one instance, a video, appearing in social media, revealed that at an activity organized by the President’s party, a call of war was sounded should the exercise not be pursued. What war meant is obviously up for debate and could be best answered by those who sounded the proverbial horn.

The indecision at GECOM comes at the same time as the President said he is committed to having credible elections in the shortest time frame. The President who expressed this desire after more than two-thirds of the timeline had expired has yet to define what he really means. We recognized notwithstanding the President’s call, his nominated Commissioners are vehement in their demand for house-to-house registration though the Chief Elections Officer, Mr Keith Lowenfield is quoted in the media to say that GECOM can work with the list.

At this time too, the FITUG is perplexed as it saw the President in his address saying “…I am prepared to do my part to ensure credible elections within the shortest possible time this year…”. Our obvious confusion is heightened noting that the house-to-house registration process, cannot, in all likelihood, be completed this year but the President is, apparently, adamant the elections must be held this year. Taking the two (2) contradictory objectives into account, we cannot help but wonder whether the house-to-house call is a pretext to ensure that the current valid Official List of Electors expires on April 30, 2019. If this is indeed the case, the rationale for such a ploy evades us, and we wonder whether it is a case of there being more in the mortar than the pestle. Given our nation’s history of electoral malpractices, this concern should not be treated lightly.

It is no longer weeks or even days but now a matter of hours from the time the Administration’s constitutional cloak is removed and our nation and people enter uncharted waters. Where next to turn and what next to do is unknown and how we operate in this period of uncertainty is frightening to say the least. We are aware of the several justifiable concerns that have been expressed and know in such situations that it is the working-people and their families that are usually the worst affected. As the sands of the Constitutional clock runs out our people grow more and more worried as our country’s worst Constitutional transgression takes place.

Regards, The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG)

Delaying Elections is denying democracy Dear Editor,

E

lectoral processes for Local Government, Regional and General Elections are constitutionally guaranteed by the Constitution of Guyana.

As such, the holding of elections is one of the key components in ensuring democracy, because it enhances citizens’ participation in governance, ensuring Government accountability and encouraging political competitiveness.

President David Granger recently announced that he would ensure that he “delivered free, fair and credible elections at the shortest possible time”.

This statement is trying to confuse Guyanese that without a house-to-house registration the elections would not be free, fair and credible; but what are the characteristics of a

credible election?

Although there is no standard definition of a credible election, there are some aspects of a credible election, the first and foremost feature of which is that it must reflect the will of the people.

According to Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of Government; this shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage, and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

The present voters list is a reflection of the will of the people, because it was used to conduct the LGE on 12th November 2019, and is valid until April 30th 2019.

The second important criterion of a credible election is that it must facilitate participa-

tion by all qualified political parties. Ensuring fair competition among the political parties and candidates is another important attribute of credible elections.

The third fundamental ingredient of credible election is that it must have an impartial and neutral administration at the Guyana Elections Commission, in that the electoral process must be trusted by the citizens.

Building the public’s trust in the elections processes is of the utmost importance to any elections management body around the world.

The credibility of elections largely depends on the actual and perceived integrity of the electoral process. More specifically, if citizens believe the electoral process is defective, dishonest, or less than free and fair, they may not accept the outcome.

The Commonwealth places critical importance on strengthening election management

bodies, because of the central role they play in ensuring that the right of citizens to elect their leaders through peaceful and credible processes with high integrity is safeguarded.

Some other vital characteristics of credible elections are as follows: the outcome of the elections, or counting of votes, must be accurate and legitimate; an effective legal framework must be in place; security of voters must be ensured before and after elections; there must be access to the media and elections observers in the elections process; and the present Government must be impartial.

When all the variables mentioned above are available in the process, conduct and outcome of elections, then those elections could be considered free, fair and credible.

Regards, Zamal Hussain

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

Worn arguments, red herrings to influence Court being raised – Jagdeo A

rguments in the cases related to the challenge of the validity of the no-confidence motion, currently before the Court of Appeal, include a refashioning of arguments that were made in the High Court and struck down in a “profound” and “well-reasoned” judgement that was handed down by the Chief Justice (ag), Roxanne George-Wilshire, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

And, during his most recent news conference, he proffered the view that the lawyers representing the Coalition Government’s interests have an almost impossible task of discounting the ruling of the Chief Justice (ag).

“No amount of foreign representation that the government will pay for with taxpayers’ money – and the use of taxpayers’ monies now is a problem in itself – will work….how will you get past the Constitution of Guyana and the ruling of the Chief Justice, a ruling that was profound and detailed…every argument being made now has been struck down by the Chief Justice with formidable reasoning,” he said.

In filing the appeals, Attorney General, Basil Williams, argued that the Chief Justice’s (ag) ruling was “unreasonable and cannot be supported having regard to the evidence” – although the ‘evidence’ in question was not detailed. He argues too that the Chief Justice (ag) “erred and misdirected herself in law” when she upheld the validity of the vote on the no-confidence motion.

PROFOUND RULINGS In the Chief Justice’s (ag) ruling on the case claiming that 33 votes was not a majority of 65 in the National Assembly and, as such, the no-confidence motion vote could not be valid without 34 vote, she said: “The majority required

by Article 106(6), being a majority of all elected members of the National Assembly is at least thirty-three (33) members.

As a result of the finding above, the no confidence motion is carried as a requisite majority was obtained by a vote of thirty-three – thirty-two (3332)…the President and the Ministers cannot therefore remain in Government beyond the three months

within which elections are required to be held…I therefore find that Cabinet is not required to resign with all convenient speed, as the resignation under Article 106(6), in my view, takes immediate effect following the defeat of the Government in a vote of confidence by a majority of all elected members of the National Assembly. In this case, Cabinet must be taken to have resigned with immediate effect from the evening of December 21, 2018, and all functions or duties provided in any law to be performed specifically by Cabinet must have ceased from that time.”

Jagdeo noted that the “34 argument” – in one of the appeals of the High Court ruling – continues to be made in the Appeal Court and he drew attention to the Chief Justice’s (ag) ruling which validates the position that 33 is the majority vote. The Chief Justice (ag) in her ruling had said, “In the case of a ‘simple majority’ the determination of a majority is based on the number of persons present and voting. In the case of an ‘absolute majority’ the determination of a majority is based on the total number of or all the Members elected to the National Assembly.”

The Opposition Leader said, “I would like to see what kind of creativity will be used…the Chief Justice’s ruling on this was factual, logical and well-reasoned,” he said.

Another of the High Court arguments being “refashioned” in the Appeal Court - in a second appeals of the High Court ruling – relates to dual citizenship.

The Opposition Leader pointed out that the Chief Justice (ag) was clear in calling out the Government for benefiting from the vote cast by former Alliance For Change (AFC) Parliamentarian, Charandass Persaud, who holds a dual citizen-

ship, but then challenging the validity of his seat in the National Assembly when his vote did not align with the interests of the Coalition.

The Chief Justice (ag) had ruled that sitting in as a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly while holding dual citizenship is unconstitutional, but Article 165(2) provides that proceedings of the national assembly are not invalidated by the presence or participation of a person not entitled to do so – therefore, Persaud’s vote is valid.

Jagdeo said, “The Chief Justice ruled that dual citizenship is not contemplated in our Constitution (relative to Members of Parliament), but she did not invalidate the vote…Article 165 (2) is clear on this…what argument will government use now? I have not heard them address Article 165 (2).”

Article 165 (2) of the Constitution states that: “The Assembly may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership (including any vacancy not filled when the Assembly first meets after the commencement of this Constitution or after any dissolution of Parliament) and the presence or participation of any person not entitled to be present at or to participate in the proceedings of the Assembly shall not invalidate those proceedings.”

COURT CANNOT EXTEND TIME A third argument currently before the Appeal Court relates to an application for a Stay of Execution of the High Court ruling, which would, in effect, extend the time of the Coalition Government in office beyond the March 21, 2019 deadline The Opposition Leader noted that there is also an attempt to have the Appeal Court extend the life of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, past the March 21, 2019 deadline

– the deadline for polls in Guyana.

According to him, the Judiciary cannot be used to “supplant” the Legislature – since, according to the Constitution, it is only by a two-third majority vote in the National Assembly, that the deadline can be extended. “Only legislators in two-third vote can extend the life of the government; not the court or anyone else….if the courts try to do that they will be putting themselves above the Constitution…so the timeline, I don’t see, how it can be extended,” he said.

Article 106 (7) states that: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.” Additionally, the Explanatory Memorandum, on Page 15, of Bill 14 of 2000 – Constitution (Amendment) – the Bill that introduced Article 106 (7) – said: “Clause 5 alters Article 106 to provide for the resignation of Cabinet and the President following the defeat of the Government in the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.

Although defeated the Government shall remain in office FOR THE PURPOSE OF HOLDING AN ELECTION.” The Opposition Leader, during his March 6, 2019 meeting with Granger, had proposed that General and Regional Elections be called on or before April 30, 2019.

He informed Granger that this is the only condition under which the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) will support the Coalition Government – which needs to have a twothirds vote in the National Assembly – to extend the March 21, 2019 deadline.

Granger rejected this offer.

GECOM FINANCING The fourth major argument being “refashioned” in the Appeal Court, in a second application made by the Government – an application for a conservatory order to maintain

the status quo ante of the Government – relates to the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) ‘needs’ for financing.

The Opposition Leader, during his news conference, said, “They are now saying they need to stay on in power because GECOM will not have enough.”

Noting that GECOM has indicated that it needs just over $2B to hold General and Regional Elections, Jagdeo charged that the Commission should already have $5.371B in its account, in accordance with the – the Fiscal Management and Accountability (FMAA) (Amendment) Act 2015.

Section 80 B (8) – makes it clear that: “The appropriation of a Constitutional Agency approved by the National Assembly shall be disbursed as a lump sum by the end of the month, following the month in which the appropriation was approved.” Of note is that it was President Granger, in August 2015, who signed off on the Fiscal Management and Accountability (FMAA) (Amendment) Act. Jagdeo stressed too that GECOM has total discretion over the use of its annual appropriation, in accordance with Article 222 (A) of the Constitution. Article 222A of the Constitution says: “In order to assure the independence of the entities listed in the Third Schedule – (a) the expenditure of each of the entities shall be financed as a direct charge on the Consolidated Fund, determined by a lump sum by way of an annual subvention approved by the national Assembly…(b) each entity shall manage its subvention in such manner as it deems fit for the efficient discharge of its functions, subject only to conformity with the financial practices and procedures approved by the National Assembly to ensure accountability.”

The Opposition Leader also called attention to the fact that Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, confirmed that GECOM can spend its annual appropriation as it prioritizes. Jordan, on November 19, 2019, during the consideration of the 2019 budget of GECOM, a constitutional agency, in the National Assembly, said: “Mr. Chairman, the sum of $5,371, 061,000 is given as a lump sum to GECOM to use as it sees fit and as it prioritizes.”

Further he pointed out that, although highly unlikely, if GECOM needs money, beyond the $5.371B it has at its disposal, GECOM can have recourse to the Contingency Fund, without resort to the National Assembly.

Jagdeo stated that this point was made by former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, in the Appeal Court.

“GECOM has more than enough money than it needs…this argument is to open a new front to legitimize an illegitimate government…the nonsensical arguments can be made, but it will not change the facts,” Jagdeo said, adding that the argument about financing is a red herring being used to mislead the Court.

NO JUDICIAL COUP Additionally, on the night of December 21, 2018, as well as the day after, the statements from President David Granger, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, and other Coalition Government Ministers, indicated an acceptance of the consequences triggered by the passage of the no-confidence motion.

However, in the following weeks, the Coalition Government signaled its approach to the judiciary. At that time, the Opposition Leader, warned against any action that could in effect be translated into a judicial coup. He had said, “We believe that the Judiciary must not engage in any action that could violate what is so explicit in our Constitution and it’s explicit that the Government must resign or else, we’ll have a judicial coup, reversing what took place in Parliament. We cannot have that, the Constitution is clear…all of these legal maneuverings are intended to thwart the will of the people and the Constitution…it is clear that the Coalition Government has lost a no-confidence motion.”

After the motion was passed in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018, House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, on January 3, 2019, refused Government’s ‘request’ to reverse the ruling he made on the night of the vote. While the High Court upheld the validity of the vote on the no-confidence motion, the same was done by the Legislature.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

From the desk of Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo...

Guyana Under Review Several issues were addressed a weekly news conference held by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday (March 20, 2019), ranging from the PPP/C rejection of GECOM’s proposed date for Elections in “late November” to what obtains after the March 21, 2019 deadline for constitutionally mandated Elections.

PPP/C will not accept November 2019 ‒ GECOM Chairman’s letter to Granger ‘carefully Elections date contrive’ to give Granger excuse T

he unilaterally appointed Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), James Patterson, wrote to President David Granger on Monday (March 18, 2019) indicating that that GECOM cannot deliver General and Regional Elections until “late November” 2019.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, during his Wednesday (March 20, 2019) news conference, made it clear that the November date is a “non-starter” and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) will not support that date, which further delays Elections that were constitutionally mandated to have been held on or before March 21, 2019.

He added that Paterson’s letter was not only sent to Granger two days before the March 21, 2019 deadline, but was also sent without consultation with the Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioners.

Jagdeo argued that since the passage of the no-confidence motion, which resulted in the fall of the Coalition Government, GECOM has made no effort to ready itself for the conduct of General and Regional Elections.

The unilaterally appointed GECOM Chairman and the three government-nominated GECOM Commissioners – Vincent Alexander, Desmond Trotman, Charles Corbin – are involved in a conspiracy to delay the elections, according to the Opposition Leader.

Notably, while no effort has been made by GECOM to ready itself for elections, attempts were made to begin preparations on December 22, 2019 – the day after the no-confidence motion was passed in the National Assembly.

On December 27, 2019, none other than the state-owned Guyana Chronicle published an article headlined ‘GECOM ready for elections’ (http://guyanachronicle. com/2018/12/27/gecom-readyfor-elections). That article read: “Amidst the possibility that General and Regional Elections (GECOM) could be held within 90 days, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has given the assurance that it will do everything to ensure that the elections are properly conducted to the highest standards.

‘With this no-confidence motion, it means once the date is set, it will be held… it is our constitutional mandate to conduct the General and Regional Elections and Local Government Elections (LGEs) whenever they are constitutionally due; so whether it is in the 90 days then it is GECOM’s responsibility to conduct elections,’ said Public Relations Officer (PRO) of GECOM Yolanda Warde during a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle.” Warde’s comment came after the GECOM Secretariat had met on December 22, 2018, to address GECOM’s readiness for General and Regional Elections, as constitutionally due after the suc-

cessful passage of the no-confidence motion. The Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioners have also confirmed with met that the December 22, 2018 meeting took place.

All considered, Jagdeo said, “The letter was a carefully contrived letter to give Granger an excuse to say it is not me, it is GECOM.” The Opposition Leader made it clear that the Parliamentary Opposition has acted reasonably, but Granger is guilty of bad faith actions.

Earlier this month, on March 8, 2019, given that GECOM has a responsibility to act in accordance with the Constitution, the Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioners – Bibi Shaddick, Robeson Benn and Sase Gunraj – proposed a detailed work plan to allow for General and Regional Elections to take place on April 29, 2019. This was rejected by Granger.

Jagdeo, on March 6, 2019, had said that with the deadline being March 21, 2019 – after which the Granger-led government will be unconstitutional – the PPP/C would support a vote in the National Assembly to extend the life of the Government once General and Regional Elections are called on or before April 30, 2019.

It is in line with this, that the Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioners proposed a work plan for April 29, 2019 General and Regional Elections.

During his Wednesday news conference, Jagdeo charged that Patterson’s letter to Granger, includes House-to-House registration, which will only delay the Elections. He said, “We will not accept the November timeline. House to House is now the excuse to delay the Elections…without House-toHouse registration, elections could be held in a short period. You can extend April deadline and have elections in two months…if the President was respectful of the constitutionally mandated deadline, he would have agreed to our proposal.

The Opposition Leader made it clear that the Parliamentary Opposition will advance peaceful protect actions against the illegal Coalition government. “We will not cease until President Granger respects the constitution and calls early elections,” he said.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

From the desk of Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo...

Guyana Under Review Several issues were addressed a weekly news conference held by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday (March 20, 2019), ranging from the PPP/C rejection of GECOM’s proposed date for Elections in “late November” to what obtains after the March 21, 2019 deadline for constitutionally mandated Elections.

Gov’t occupying office beyond March 21 akin to ‘coup d’état against the Constitution’ I

n face of the unprecedented situation in Guyana – where the APNU+AFC Coalition refused to comply with the Constitution of Guyana and failed to hold General and Regional Elections by March 21, 2019 – the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has had engagements with both local and foreign lawyers.

At his Wednesday (March 20, 2019) news conference he said, “We have sought legal opinions about what takes place in the period after March 21. And so, most of the opinions we are receiving is that we are entering into unchartered territories or territory in Guyana and many of these lawyers have indicated that they have perused the situation, historically in the Commonwealth, to see how comparable situations are dealt with when a Government simply refuses to obey the Constitution. “…the lawyers are saying that this situation, and I believe this, is akin to a coup d’état. Normally, we use coup d’état when there is an overthrow of the Government using force, but this is the illegal occupation of office

because the Government has overthrown constitutional order in Guyana and so it is a coup d’état against the Constitution.”

Jagdeo reiterated that after March 21, the APNU+AFC Coalition government became unconstitutional, illegal and illegitimate.

He said, “Granger will have to be answerable for all of acts after March 21, 2019…he will lose all of his immunities…Granger will be illegal and cannot claim entitlement. Civil and criminal actions can be filed….similarly with the ministers. Their acts also will be illegal. They will have to be personally answerable for all of those acts. They are not entitled to use state resources for any purpose whatsoever…all of the acts of the government will become illegal.”

The Opposition Leader added that the Coalition cannot invoke the Doctrine of Necessity to remain in office. “The doctrine of necessity does not kick in… all the lawyers were clear that the president cannot take advantage of the law by claiming necessity. Necessity cannot be implied when it is

him, there is “recognition that there is a Constitutional imperative that the government must adhere to” by the local diplomatic corps.

self-inflicted…Granger abdicated his responsibility…you cannot devolve your responsibility to another agency and then claim necessity,” he said. He noted that, using the Coalition’s logic, the APNU+AFC can remain in office “forever” and continue to ignore the Constitution.

On the question of steps that will be taken, Jagdeo said that there will be: • Peaceful protests against Granger, Moses Nagamootoo and APNU+AFC ‘Ministers’; • A call for international

sanctions; • A call for international non-recognition of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government; • Legal action to block the use and abuse of state resources; • Calls for sanctions against the GECOM Chairman and the three government-appointed GECOM Commissioners; and • Additional political steps.

Already, according to

Guyanese interested in volunteering asked to contact Party

State resources being used for misinformation campaign T

T

he APNU+AFC Coalition government has seemingly gone into a public relations overdrive, using state resources, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. He contends that this misinformation campaign is being used to advance points that have been repeatedly debunked by the Parliamentary Opposition, as well as civil society.

He said, “DPI has a national character and it is now dedicated to peddling partisan views of AFC and PNC.

Almost on a daily basis, DPI is spouting lies and misleading Guyanese people.

“NCN has become a veritable propaganda arm, peddling falsehoods about the situation in Guyana.

“The Chronicle is doing the same thing. Then we also see a series of advertisements supporting the same line.

“They are all saying there is no crisis in Guyana.

They are saying it is business as usual. They are saying the PPP is to be blamed.

They are saying that the House-to-House registration is necessity now to clean up a bloated list. The elections cannot be held now, until forever, until GECOM is ready. These are the fallacies and fiction that are dominating sections of the news and social media,” he said.

He added, “Unfortunately, some of our young people are repeating the same line.”

The Opposition Leader has urged Guyanese to be wary of the misinformation that is being peddled.

AFTER THE VOTE Notably, on the night of December 21, 2018, immediately after the successful vote, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, at an impromptu news conference held at Public Buildings (Parliament) in Committee Room 1, said: “The confidence motion was put the floor and the no-confidence motion was passed.

The options that are available after a no-confidence motion is passed in the House is dictated by the Constitution, Article 106….the Government remains in office until such time as elections are called….the Constitution says elections in 90 days….

The process in the National Assembly was an open and transparent process….

Parliamentary democracy triumphed.”

On December 22, 2018, a statement released by the Ministry of the Presidency, quoted President Granger as

saying: “We will do everything necessary to facilitate the smooth functioning of General and Regional Elections bearing in mind the need for normal governmental functions to continue uninterrupted.”

On the same day, a statement from the Alliance For Change (AFC), read: “Pursuant to the constitutional requirement for elections, the party has begun to plan, prepare and mobilize.”

AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman, followed up on his Party’s statement with one of his own, where he said: “This no-confidence motion has been a wakeup call for us long before it was even voted on. The vote has made the concerns of the people even more acute. The AFC and Government have recognized this as a significant political indicator and it will not be business as usual.”

The developments since then represent a backtracking of the positions initially taken.

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is now available on WhatsApp number 592-611-PPPC (7772) and it encouraging Guyanese, who are interested in political activism and volunteering, to contact the Party.

WhatsApp allows persons to message from Guyana other countries at no cost.

Operators are manning the line on a 24-hour basis and interested Guyanese are asked to communicate this to the Party.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

Corruption, breach of financial laws, spending irregularities and more….

APNU+AFC gov’t has racked up over 55 scandals since taking office

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orruption, breach of financial laws, spending irregularities and more….

APNU+AFC gov’t has racked up over 55 scandals since taking office The Parliamentary Opposition has been monitoring the APNU+AFC Coalition government’s use of public funds and the levels of transparency and accountability. From June 10, 2015 to date, over 55 scandals have been uncovered – an average of one scandal for each month – some of which are listed below:

1. The cost of the inauguration ceremonies at the Parliament Buildings and, more particularly, the one at the National Stadium has never been revealed.

2. The removal of 8 containers containing steel by BK International from the Ministry of Public Health’s compound worth millions of dollars - in the first week after government changed - in violation of a court order.

The government did nothing to retrieve the containers and has been silent.

3. The dismissal of 1,972 Amerindian community service officers at “one stroke of the pen” with no cause by the third (3rd) Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous Affairs. Despite a promise by VP Allicock in the National Assembly, during the 2015 Budget debate that the government would create a new programme to hire Amerindian youths, they instead replaced this programme with the Hinterland Entrepreneurial Youth Skills Programme (HEYs).

HEYS is a sixmonth training programme with no entrepreneurial or employment component, which is under severe duress as there are complaints that the facilitators and students have not received their stipends despite the budgetary provision of $1Billion.

4. The appointment of 33 foreign honourary advisors to assist the government and the appointment of a top heavy bureaucracy of Presidential and Ministerial advisors, which have only been partially disclosed in the National Assembly in response to questions to Ministers in 2016. The total numbers are approximated to be nearing 100 advisors (local and foreign) at a huge cost to the taxpayers.

5. India/GoG funded Speciality Hospital – the government gave

a contract to Fedders Lloyd (VP Ramjattan was its lawyer) without going to tender at a price yet unknown and in violation of the procurement laws. Despite public outcry, the government refused to terminate the contract for the Speciality Hospital. The company was delisted by the IDB and the Indian government and Eximbank withdrew the money for the loan. There has been no disclosure as to how much Fedders Lloyd was paid and what work had been done when the company was delisted and the project halted.

6. The first act of the government was to give themselves enormous salary increases between 50 -100 % of what the former government ministers received. This was quietly done in September 2015 and the parliamentary opposition had to wage a struggle in Parliament to bring a motion to reverse this. When the motion was finally heard in December, it was defeated by the government’s one-seat majority. It should be remembered that the media, having leaked the fact that the government was embarking on increasing the salaries of the President, VPs and Ministers, Minister Trotman, on behalf of the government, denied that the government was contemplating any salary increases for the Ministers. This was also denied during the debate on the 2015 Budget in August 2015. Having gone into recess mid-September, the government stealthily published Order No. 6 of 2015 in the Official Gazette, dated September 25th, 2015, increasing their salaries and making it retroactive to July 1, 2015. Contrast this act with the government’s refusal to increase the salaries of the public servants in accordance with their campaign promises.

7. Durban Park Development Project for the Jubilee celebrations - The government has refused to provide information on the “private company,” which was in charge of the preparations of the Durban Park prior to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s “take over” of the project on the orders of the President.

It is estimated that the costs, when finally exposed, will be close to $1Billion - for a one-day event.

8. The President pardoned over 100 convicted felons in 2015 and stated that this would be done annually. He promised that these would be felons with non-violent crimes and juvenile offenders. In fact, this was not true. A number of these persons had been sentenced for violent crimes and a number of them are back in prison.

9. The Rudisa case at the CCJ and the pay out to Rudisa - The APNU and AFC, while in Opposition, twice caused the defeat in the 10th Parliament of attempts by the PPPC government to amend the Customs Act in order to pre-empt the case going to the CCJ and save the country millions of US dollars. The APNU+AFC Coalition government settled to repay the entire amount of the Rudisa USD$16M claim without any negotiations for a debt repayment schedule and despite the fact that the company owed and appears to still owe millions of dollars in taxes to Guyana. The first payment was made late last year and the second budgeted for in the 2016 Budget.

10. Hundreds of millions of dollars spent by the Government and the Georgetown Mayor and City Council on the “Clean Up Campaign” in the city with no public tendering and handpicked companies. In some cases, new companies were created with no experience to facilitate this corruption. There has been no accountability of the amount of monies spent and the Mayor and Town Clerk have rebuffed efforts to allow the Auditor General’s office to do a forensic audit.

11. The write off of debts owed to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the nation by DDL worth billions of dollars (April 2016). If DDL had not issued a press release announcing the write off, this would not have been known.

12. Other write-off of debts by the GRA for other companies who financed the APNU+AFC Coalition electoral campaign, worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Minister Trotman said these companies have to be compensated for their financial investment.

13. Following the March 18, 2016 Local Government Elections, Minister Bulkan in violation of the statutes governing the local government system, appointed the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, and the 5 Chairpersons and vice chairperson of the 5 NDCs in the 6 tied LAAs. All of these persons were APNU, although there was a plurality of votes in 3 of the 6 tied LAAs for the PPP and 3 for the APNU+AFC. 14. W r i t e - o f f s b y t h e APNU+AFC dominated Georgetown Municipal Council to many companies for millions of dollars owed in rates and taxes for undisclosed amounts. This is a City Council that is now cashstrapped and cannot pay contractors for garbage collection nor timely payment of salaries of its employees. The cost to the Treasury of these write offs by the GRA, the Georgetown City Council and other Local Authority Areas alone earmarked in this list of scandals is estimated to be between 23% to 36 % of the total 2016 Budget.

15. Parking meters contract with no public tendering, no involvement of the Georgetown City Council, no consultation with the citizens – the scandal deepens, even as the APNU+AFC Georgetown Mayor is being advised to do some damage control by attempting to amend the 49-year contract and make it less embarrassing for the government.

16. The three-year Pharmacy Bond contract between the Ministry of Public Health and the Linden Holding Company was not tendered for by Minister Dr Norton’s own admission on the floor of the National Assembly.

The PPP/C will be submitting its motion of privilege, calling for the Speaker to send the Minister of Public Health to the Privilege Committee for wilfully misleading the National Assembly and the nation.

17. The GoG/BK International settlement of $1.17 B for Haags Bosche - The Ministry of Communities’ settlement of $1.17B to BK International for the Haags Bosche project came to light as a result of a Supplementary Financial Paper on August 8th where the country learnt that this settlement was made and

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

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PPP/C teams continue walkabouts

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

Constitutional crisis has widespread impact The unconstitutional nature of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government – having failed to comply with Article 106 of the Constitution, which was triggered after the passage of the no-confidence motion on December 21, 2019, has widespread impacts. This week, the Mirror engaged several persons on this subject and their views ranged from the impact on business to the impact on Guyana’s international standing.

WILLIAM GOPIE (ACTUARY) said, “This whole episode in Guyana’s politics has been a blatant disregard for the Constitution. The government was elected to uphold the constitution and the rule of law, but when it’s contrary to their interests, they refuse to do so. Their behaviour doesn’t support Guyana’s democracy nor the maturity of its political environment. President Granger’s reckless actions are nothing short of contempt. I believe the international community should join the Guyanese people in sanctioning and nullifying their positions in office, come March 22, 2019.”

NUTANA SINGH (STUDENT) said: “Guyana’s move into a constitutional crisis is very bad for the economy. As a commerce student, I understand the global ramifications this can have for our economy. In this day and age, being perceived as undemocratic, especially for a country with a recent discovery of oil, will scare investors and hurt the business climate. Most investors aren’t interested in partnering with a dictatorship regime. Those who are willing, to invest in a dictatorship regime, will make us mirror the history of Middle Eastern and African States. These are oil-rich countries, which have some strata of rich and poor. This is not what we want for Guyana. As a young Guyanese this is not something I would ever like to see.”

JERMAINE GENTLE (SOCIAL WORKER): “This state of affairs will impact everyday lives of all Guyanese. It will impact the working class, everyone. This crisis is not good for our nation. Our Government should respect the Constitution and call Elections now. The international community has already said that there should be respect for the Constitution.”

AYANA DALRYMPLE (HAIRDRESSER) said: “The way things are right now, it is bad. Business is not good. You have bills after bills. Things will get worse from the way things look right now. The APNU promised jobs for young people, they promised free education from and so many other things and up to now we are still waiting. Nothing for ordinary people have been fulfilled. Right now we see that the government even promised to respect the Constitution and it will run us into chaos. That is bad for our country. What will happen to our children? What are we going to do? We cannot have a government behaving illegally.”

MARCELLE RAHMAN (BUSINESSWOMAN) said: “Business is very very bad right now, it is slow. It is slow because people are holding back their money, they don’t want to spend. There is a lot of uncertainty. In the last three years, prices for everything gone up. Things like light, if you don’t pay, you get cut off and these are necessities you need. With the situation now, things will only get worse. The Coalition Government should just call the Elections in the interest of the country and the people, especially the young people.”

NALINIE SINGH (PR CONSULTANT) said: “In my opinion, democracy is being treated as a farce right now by the Government. APNU+AFC claim’s to be democratic and righteous and then absolutely disrespecting the Constitution. Their excuses have been constantly piling up – it has been one after the other and each has been debunked. The Government should have called elections the moment the no-confidence motion was passed. What the Coalition is doing now is devasting to our image as a democratic state.”

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

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PPP/C Presidential candidate, other leaders join Belle West residents in pre-Paghwah Mela

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

Dozens turn out for annual Cheddi Jagan fitness walk T

he annual Cheddi Jagan Fitness Walk was held on Sunday (March 17, 2019) and was supported by dozens of people. This is one of the many activities being held in remembrance of the life and work for Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

March 6, 2019 marked the 22nd death anniversary of Dr Jagan. Sunday’s (March 10, 2019) event at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, Berbice, was an annual activity to remember the man hailed as the ‘Father of the Nation’. Dr Jagan died on March 6, 1997. The birth anniversary (March 22, 1918) of Dr Jagan is also remembered in the month of March.

Cheddi Jagan book, photo exhibition opens at Red House T he Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) on Monday opened a book and photo exhibition at the National Library on Church Street, Georgetown, in paying homage to former President Dr Cheddi Jagan for his sterling contribution to Guyana.

This year marks the 101st birth anniversary of Dr Jagan, who was born on March 22, 1918. He died 22 years ago on March 6.

At the exhibition, there were images depicting various periods throughout his

life. From his fight for independence to being the first democratically elected President of Guyana.

Books written by the late President were on display and included The West on Trial, Rooting for Labour, Forbidden Freedom and the USA in South America. The West on Trial is dubbed as one of his best pieces, which documents his fight for the country’s freedom.

Chairman of the CJRC, Hydar Ally stated during the commencement of the exhibition that because of Dr

Jagan’s persistence, persons of all social strata are given the chance to vote.

“It was Dr Jagan who fought the British for that right to vote. The very right to vote that we take for granted was fought for and won. He was also instrumental in the struggle for Guyana’s independence and I would consider him to be the architect in Guyana’s independence struggle,” Ally relayed.

In 1950, the former President founded the People’s Progressive Party and head-

ed the PPP elected Government in 1953 while presiding as the Minister of Agriculture. He headed the second elected Government in 1957 to 1961 while serving as Minister of Trade and Industry. From 1961 to 1964, he served as Premier and Minister of Development and Planning.

Dr Jagan served as leader of the parliamentary opposition from 1964-1973 and 1976-1992. On October 9, 1992, he was elected as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

17

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

City Hall in Focus

Another case of poor management at City Hall

By Bishram Kuppen

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itizens across Georgetown will agree that garbage removal is one of their biggest concerns especially when regular and efficient services are not provided.

And it is a fact that citizens have experienced horrendous periods when garbage was not picked for prolonged periods or the haphazard nature of service which occurs from time to time. In addition, the lack of regular and efficient garbage removal services can present major health hazards and can also disrupt the quality of life of our citizens.

It is now abundantly clear that the City Council has been unable to get a solid grip of this situation after all these years. Citizens would also recall that Georgetown was known as the garbage city due to the mountains of garbage which had accumulated in many areas and the failure of the City Council to manage the system.

There is some confusion among citizens as to who is actually responsible for garbage removal and solid waste management in the City. According to the Municipal and District Councils Acts, the City Council is directly responsible for garbage removal and solid waste management in Georgetown and not the Central Government as many people seem to think.

But the City Council has made a mess of the situation by not implementing a permanent or workable solution to this problem even though the group that controls City Hall has been in that position since Guyana gained its independence.

In addition, Georgetown City Council have been in a perpetual state of financial insolvency due to gross mismanagement, corruption and a lack of accountability.

It should be noted that any municipalities and cities around the world have their own Municipal Solid Waste Collection Departments which take care of garbage removal, recycling programs and effective citizenry education for waste handling.

They also have their own fleet of vehicles and equipment to handle the job.

In the case of the Georgetown City but because the Council was frequently vice from their attorneys who had advised Council, a recent visit to the mechanical unable to pay them within that period, the that Cevon’s Waste Management and workshop quickly revealed why the Coun- contractors had extended the grace period Puran Brothers had breached the contracts cil would have many problems in this area to 90 days but the Council again failed to when they withdrew services but the attorsince there were a number of vehicles and pay them within the 90 days period. neys for Cevon’s and Puran’s claimed that equipment sitting in the workshop for years According to the contractors, the failure the contracts were not breached, but rather, without being repaired. There is also a gar- of the City Council to pay them resulted in it was the City Council which breached bage truck belonging to the City Council extreme hardship to their employees and the contracts by nt paying for contractual which has been abandoned for many years meeting overhead expenses so they decided services rendered. The matter had come on a street in Kitty and this was reported to to withdraw their services in 2017. Central up at a Statutory meeting of the Council the City Council by former PPP Councillor government came to the rescue and paid off in February 2019 and the Town Clerk had Khane Sharma. the contractors for 2017. advised Councillors that she had written The Georgetown City Council contracts But the Council continued to fail to pay Attorney General Basil Williams to get this out all of its garbage removal services at a contractors on time in 2018. advise but she had not received a response. cost of approximately $34 million monthly The contractors claimed that in a The contracts with the smaller contracif the full scope of the contracted works are goodwill gesture, they did not withdraw tors were due to expire on February 26, performed by the two Solid Waste Contrac- services in 2018 during local government 2019 and in the absence of a response from tors including the rental of skip bins. elections even though they were owed a AG Basil Williams, the Council had agreed In addition, the City Council maintains large sum of money. However, they later to extend the contracts with the smaller a Solid Waste Department of eighty-sev- withdrew services because, again, a large contractors to the end of March 2019. en (87) employees including Sanitation sum of money became past due and they The Council’s position, as explained by Workers and Street Orderlies which costs could no longer go for 6 -7 months without Mr. Walter Narine who is the Solid Waste the Council a substantial amount of money being paid.

Director, is that Council cannot afford to each month, but many areas in the GeorgeThey were later called to a meeting pay Cevon’s and Puran’s at the contracted town have heaps or piles of garbage which where a payment plan was worked out and rates and had asked the Contractors to have not been pick up for a long time. they expressed a willingness to return to reduce their rates but that was not done.

The two main garbage contractors are work but the Council blocked them from So the current situation is that the main Cevon’s Waste Management and Puran returning because Council had hired four Contractors are owed for 2019 but still Brothers who have been contracted to smaller contractors. performing partial services as a goodwill remove garbage from the City. We were As a consequence of the new arrange- gesture while the smaller contractors along advised at a recent meeting that Puran ment, they were only allowed to do about with the Council’s Solid Waste Department Brothers have worked for the City Council 50% of the work but still were not paid. are removing most of the garbage from the for over forty (40) years.

They had also met with Council to make City. In addition, some of the small conThe major issue surrounding the current a separate agreement to remove garbage tractors are also owed since 2017. situation is the failure of the City Council from certain areas at a reduced rate. The Developments, to resolve this issue and to pay these contractors on time, as per the contractors said that they had an existing hope that a crisis is averted and residents terms of the contracts. The contracts were valid contract with the Council and any are spared from the health hazards and entered into willingly between the City new arrangement would have to be a sep- trauma of having to deal with massive Council and the Contractors in 2015 and arate agreement. In addition, they stated garbage pile-ups, will be communicated. these contracts will expire in 2020. that they had not received any payments However, it is clear that the claims about Recently, the City Council held a for 2019 even though they continued to success made by the Coalition Government meeting with the two main solid waste perform services.

– which has over 20 representatives at City contractors to discuss a number of urgent The City Council had sought legal ad- Hall – have been exposed as misleading. issues including non-payment of money owed to them and the future of their relationships.

The main issue exLOCATIONS TO SUBMIT : 1) PPP office Leonora pressed by 2) Stewartville by Anil residence (Lot 67, Stewartville West Coast Demerara) the contrac3) Stewartville/Corneila Ida Neighbourhood Democratic Council tors was the fact that they are owed a Submitted: on or before April 15,2019 Categories: Ages 6-11, Ages 12-16, Ages 17-25 large sum of money and the City Council was continually falling behind on payments.

They had an original grace Prizes: 1st prize and 2nd prize trophy in each category period of thirOpen to: Youth within the above age range from Stewartville to CI (Individuals/Group) ty (30) days The Artwork should be provided with a short narrative not exceeding 100 words. Art Work should reflect mother earth, her future for Council and /or her importance to you. Ensure your name, age, telephone number and address are attached to your work to pay them

STEWARTVILLE PROGRESSIVE YOUTH ORGANISATION

18

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

ERC report says GECOM Chairman, HR Manager ‒ adds that Persaud was most ‘suitable refused to cooperate with probe candidate’ for DCEO position

T

he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), tasked with probing the hiring prac-

tices of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), finally handed its report to

the Commission on Tuesday (March 19, 2019).

And it details non-cooper-

ation by the GECOM Chairman, James Patterson, and the Human Resources Man-

FACT SHEET

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

CURRENT LIST OF ELECTORS IS VALID The APNU+AFC Coalition has been calling for house-to-house registration, claiming that the list is not ‘sanitised’ and that young people – first time voters - will be disenfranchised since their names would not be on the list.

So what are the facts? » Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission, Keith Lowenfield, on February 5, 2019, declared that the List of Electors was, in fact, clean. » GECOM, less than four months ago, conducted a Local Government Elections on November 12, 2018 with the current List of Electors. None of the political parties, or independent groups and candidates, objected to the List that was used. There were no challenges based on the List of Voters that was used either. » The claim that first time voters being disenfranchised is another fallacy. The Coalition Government argues that persons who turned 18-years-old are not on the Voters’ List. The fact is that the Voters’ List has been updated during several cycles of Continuous Registration that were conducted by GECOM. So there is little chance of young persons, who are eligible to vote, being left off the Voters’ List. » The current Voters’ List was derived from a ‘Continuous Registration, Claims and Objections’ process, which ended October 2018. After such a process the List becomes valid for six months. The current List will expire on April 30, 2019. » Once a cycle of Continuous Registration has commenced anyone who will be 14-years-old or older by that time and is a Guyanese citizen by birth, descent, naturalization, or is a citizen from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more, is eligible for registration during this exercise. During this registration exercise, persons who are eligible for registration are required to visit one of GECOM’s 28 Registration Offices across the 10 Regions, to apply for registration. » Not allowing someone who attained the age of 14 at the time that the cycle of Continuous Registration commenced to register is an offence. Section 6 of the National Registration Act, Chapter, 19:08, makes it obligatory for persons who meet the registration criteria to apply for registration. Persons eligible for registration could be prosecuted, fined and/or even sent to prison for failing or refusing to apply for registration. In the case of eligible persons under the age of 18 years by the qualifying date, the parents/guardians could be prosecuted for failure/refusal to apply for registration. » Article 42 of the Constitution provides entitlement for citizens of Guyana to be so registered. » GECOM’s website states: “Subsequent to the 2001 General and Regional Elections, political parties had agitated for legislative changes which would ensure that a new system of voter registration guarantees Guyanese in general, but more specifically their own supporters, their Constitutional right to be registered and vote at future General, Regional and Local Government Elections. This led to the introduction of Continuous Registration with two primary objectives i.e. (1) introducing a system which would ensure that all eligible persons are afforded unlimited opportunities to become registered on the National Register of Registrants Database and (2), ensuring that GECOM is in a perpetual state of preparedness which would enable it to respond to calls for elections in a timely manner thus guaranteeing eligible persons their Constitutional right to become registered in accordance with the relevant legal provisions and to cast their ballots at future General, Regional and Local Government Elections.” » GECOM is a creature of the Constitution. As an autonomous agency its responsibility is to comply with the Constitution – in this case that means readying itself for General and Regional Elections, which are due by March 21, 2019, following the successful passage of the no-confidence motion that resulted in the fall of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. » Article 162 (1) of the Constitution states clearly that: “The Elections Commission shall have such functions connected with or relating to the registration of electors or the conduct of elections as are conferred upon it by or under this Constitution or, subject thereto, any Act of Parliament; and, subject to the provisions (of ) this Constitution, the Commission – a) shall exercise general direction and supervision over the registration of electors and the administrative conduct of all elections of members of the National Assembly; and b) shall issue such instructions and take such action as appear to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of this Constitution or of any Act of Parliament on the part of persons exercising powers or performing duties connected with or relating to the matters aforesaid.”

DESPITE THESE FACTS, THE APNU+AFC COALITION HAS BEEN INSTIGATING THEIR SUPPORTERS TO ECHO A MISPLACED CALL FOR A HOUSE-HOUSE REGISTRATION. THE POSITION TAKEN BY THE APNU+AFC COALITION IS A CLEAR PLOY TO DELAY CONSTITUTIONALLY DUE GENERAL AND REGIONAL ELECTIONS.

ager, Marcia Crawford. Page 29 of the report says: “The sub-committee was considerably handicapped by the failure of the following persons to appear: Ms. Roxanne Myers, Deputy Chief Elections Office of GECOM; Ms. Marcia Crawford, Human Resources Manager, GECOM; and Justice James Patterson (Rtd) (to produce documents…).”

The report adds, “This failure cannot be described as anything other than deliberate and willful…the failure of these persons to assist the sub-Committee (of the ERC) in this inquiry is nothing but a clear and inexcusable dereliction of their public duty… it can also be seen as putting their own personal interests above their public duty.”

The trio also failed to submit written statements and other forms of documentation, as requested, to the ERC. The ERC had set up a special investigative team following a complaint lodged by the three People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-nominated GECOM Commissioners appointed by the Opposition.

The team is headed by Retired Justice, Stanley Moore and includes Human Resources Consultant, Jairam Petam and former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lloyd Smith. The three-man team was initially given a period of three weeks, by the end of October 2018, for the completion of the investigation and submission of a report.

COMPLAINT The three PPP-nominated Commissioners, in a joint complaint letter, called for a full investigation on the hiring practices at GECOM last year.

The Commissioners charge that the state of affairs is “clearly indicative of a larger issue at the Guyana Elections Commission, which has an adverse effect on ethnic relations and harmony in Guyana.” The three Commissioners called for the inquiry to be done, at the earliest opportunity, and for the ERC’s report be made public.

The PPP/C nominated Commissioners noted that the ERC has the mandate to conduct the inquiry as requested, pursuant to Article 212D (a) (d) and (p), of the Constitution.

The call for an investigation came after the top-ranked candidate applying for the post of Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) was passed over for the post.

CONTROVERSIAL APPOINTMENT In June 2018, the three Commissioners - Robeson Benn, Sase Gunraj and Bibi Shaddick – walked out of a meeting after GECOM

Chairman, Justice (rtd) James Patterson, exercised his casting vote to support the PNCR-nominated Commissioners’ rejection of the top ranked candidate, Vishnu Persaud. As a result of his casting vote, the way has been paved for the second-ranked candidate, Roxanne Meyers, to be offered the post of DCEO. Myers has no election management experience. She has been linked to PNRC-nominated Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, since at one point she was a student of his. She has also exposed herself as an avid supporter of the APNU+AFC Coalition government, given her social media posts. As such, critics have said that Myers’ ability to function in an impartial manner is in question.

Notably, Persaud was not only the top-ranked candidate for the post of DCEO, but he served as DCEO for several years too. He was appointed as DCEO at GECOM on August 12, 2014. In 2014, when Persaud was appointed, PNCR-nominated Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, made no objection, when there was a vote on whether or not he should be appointed to the post. Persaud was forced to re-apply for the job he held because his contract ended and could not be renewed, given that there was no functioning Commission. The Commission had dissolved after the resignation of former GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally. Before being appointed as DCEO in 2014, Persaud was at GECOM since 2001.

PERSAUD WAS MOST SUITABLE CANDIDATE According to the report, on Page 29, Persaud was the most “suitable candidate for appointment to the post of DCEO” of GECOM. It adds that, “Nothing has been presented to us which, at least on paper, reveals any attributes in Ms. Myers that were capable of offsetting the clear paper advantage which Mr, Persaud enjoyed.”

Notably, the ERC committee dealing with the investigation met with Persaud twice – on August 14, 2018 and on August 24, 2018 The ERC also met with the Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioners on August 29, 2018.

The ERC is a constitutional body established under the Herdmanston Accord. It works with persons and agencies to promote harmonious ethnic relations. The Commission also deals with complaints, promotes training in racial harmony, and fosters a sense of security, among all ethnic groups.

19

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

GECOM’s proposal for Elections in November after House-to-House Registration is ‘impossible’ – former DCEO

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ven with the ParliamenElectors (PLE) – 1 day tary Opposition’s rejec- “It must be crystal clear to all concerned that General • Claims and Objections tion of the November 2019 and Regional Elections cannot be held this year, (much – 4 days date for General and Rejec• Ensuring all transactions tions, the Guyana Elections less in November of this year), as the sequel to a HtHR. are accurately completed Commission (GECOM) Instead, based on the above estimation, it will not be and received by GECOM seems intent on moving – 1 possible to have General and Regional Elections until Secretariat/inputting ahead in this direction – day one that includes conduct- June, 2020 at the earliest if HtHR were to be conducted.” • Cropping/dispatch of ing a new House-to-House – former DCEO, Vishnu Persaud fingerprints for cross registration process. matching to check for However, former Depduplicate registrations – 1 ing date for submission of applications was uty Chief Election Officer, Vishnu Persaud, 15/06/2019. day contends that an Election in November, after • HtHR field operations seven days per week • Cross matching of fingerprints receipt of House-to-House registration, is impossible.

(Enumerators Completing Application Forms results – 1 day In a letter to the press he said, “Astounded etc – 26 days • Sorting of registration forms associated with would be an understatement to describe my • Ensuring all transactions are accurately com- duplicates – 1 day state of mind when I read an article titled pleted and received by GECOM Secretariat/ • Investigation from claims and objections/ `GECOM Chairman tells President elec- inputting – 4 days submission of Reports to the Commission tions can be held by November – following • Cropping/dispatch of fingerprints for cross – 2 days house-to-house registration’…based on my matching to check for duplicate registrations • Commission’s examination of Reports/ knowledge and experience in the conduct of – 2 days Approval for committal of all transactions to registration and election projects, I am com- • Cross matching of fingerprints receipt of create a new NRR – 1 day pelled to make it unambiguously clear that it results – 1 day • Printing and posting of Revised List of Elecis absolutely impossible for the Guyana Elec- • Sorting of registration forms associated with tors (RLE) – 1 day tions Commission (GECOM) to hold General duplicates – 1 day • RLE must (statutorily) remain posted for 21 and Regional Elections by November, 2019 • Investigation of duplicates (about 800 days – 3 days following a House-to-House Registration emerged from the 2008 HtHR)/submission of • Certifying the Official List of Electors (HtHR) exercise.”

(OLE) – Historically, this is done immediReports to the Commission – 4 days Detailing crucial tasks for a House-to-House • Commission’s examination of Reports/ ately after the expiry of the above 21 days. registration process, and their approximate Approval for committal of all transactions to • Notification to apply/application for/approvtimelines, he said: create a new National Register of Registrants al of Party Symbols – 2 days • Shortlisting of applicants/training of Enu- (NRR) – 1 day • Nomination Day-Election Day – 5 days merators (starting now) – 6 days. The clos- • Printing and posting of Preliminary List of “This list only addresses the key tasks

only. It is not all inclusive. For example, the conduct of finger print cross matching could be delayed as a result of the vendor providing this service insisting on full advance payment necessitating the acquisition of quotations, going through the legislative procurement procedures, signing of contract etc. I am certain that, should GECOM disclose its comprehensive work plan for the conduct of elections, starting from registration, the timelines will be more expansive than that which is outlined,” he said.

Persaud added, “…it must be crystal clear to all concerned that General and Regional Elections cannot be held this year, (much less in November of this year), as the sequel to a HtHR. Instead, based on the above estimation, it will not be possible to have General and Regional Elections until June, 2020 at the earliest if HtHR were to be conducted.”

The former Deputy Chief Elections Officer also disclosed that GECOM had previously decided to hold House-to-House registration every 10 years – not every seven years as is now being claimed. “The decision for HtHR to be conducted every 10 years can be verified from the Concept Paper for Continuous Registration which was approved in totality and/or the relevant Minutes of the Statutory Meetings of the Commission at the time the Concept Paper was approved. I was Scribe to the Commission at the time this decision was taken. And I am not aware that the decision was overturned,” Persaud declared.

Magistrate dismisses charges against GECOM Chair, Coalition gov’t has not released Chief gov’t nominated Commissioners without hearing case GECOM’s full 2019 budget T appropriation as required by law

I

n a letter to the President, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman claimed that the agency needed $3.5B to start preparations for elections.

This comment has raised concerns about whether or not GECOM’s 2019 budget appropriation of $5.371B has been released to the agency as required by law.

Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Bibi Shaddick, during a press conference called after Tuesday (March 19, 2019), disclosed that the monies have not been released to GECOM. She said, “From $2B for ordinary elections, it has gone to $3.5 billion. And their plan is to hold it after house-to-house registration, for which they have $3.5 billion. So that money is there. So what is this money for? Nobody can tell me.

Now this is a Chairman asking for $3.5B extra to what they got, that was appropriated but never disbursed to GECOM, contrary to law. According to the CEO, every quarter they have to request. And that’s not

for constitutional agencies, which have all their money.”

The Fiscal Management and Accountability (FMAA) (Amendment) Act 2015.

Section 80 B (8) – makes it clear that: “The appropriation of a Constitutional Agency approved by the National Assembly shall be disbursed as a lump sum by the end of the month, following the month in which the appropriation was approved.”

It was President Granger, in August 2015, who signed off on the Fiscal Management and Accountability (FMAA) (Amendment) Act. Additionally, it was Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, who confirmed that GECOM can spend its annual appropriation as it prioritizes. Jordan, on November 19, 2019, during the consideration of the 2019 budget of GECOM, a constitutional agency, in the National Assembly, said: “Mr. Chairman, the sum of $5,371, 061,000 is given as a lump sum to GECOM to use as it sees fit and as it prioritizes.”

The fact that GECOM has total discretion over the

use of its annual appropriation, is also made clear in Article 222 (A) of the Constitution. Article 222A of the Constitution says: “In order to assure the independence of the entities listed in the Third Schedule – (a) the expenditure of each of the entities shall be financed as a direct charge on the Consolidated Fund, determined by a lump sum by way of an annual subvention approved by the national Assembly… (b) each entity shall manage its subvention in such manner as it deems fit for the efficient discharge of its functions, subject only to conformity with the financial practices and procedures approved by the National Assembly to ensure accountability.”

“GECOM has more than enough money than it needs…this argument is to open a new front to legitimize an illegitimate government…the nonsensical arguments can be made, but it will not change the facts,” Jagdeo said, adding that the argument about financing is a red herring being used to mislead the Court.

he case against the Chairman of GECOM (GECOM), James Patterson, and the three Government-nominated GECOM Commissioners – Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman – did not see lawyers’ submissions being made before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Friday (March 15, 2019).

The criminal complaint for charges to be instituted was filed by private citizen, Marcel Gaskin, brother of current APNU+AFC Coalition Government Minister, Dominic Gaskin. Dominic Gaskin is also the son-in-law of President David Granger.

The case against the four men were filed on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

The complaint alleges that during the period December 22, 2018 to March 9, 2019 the defendants conspired to breach Article 106 of the Constitution of Guyana, which provided for the holding of General Elections in Guyana within three months from the 21st December 2018.

McLennan dismissed the charges filed saying that the charge has no purpose and appears to be frivolous.

The defendants were represented by Attorney-at-law Rex McKay, Neil Boston and Robert Corbin. The charges were brought by Marcel Gaskin, the brother of Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin.

He was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin and Ganesh Hira.

Since then, Datatin has said he would be moving to the High Court on to refile the challenge. He added that the move by the chief magistrate to dismiss a case of national importance and with grave implications without a proper hearing is unheard of. “You can’t breach a Constitution; but if people get together and say that is what they are doing, then it is a criminal offence at common law, and under section 21 it carries (a penalty) of one year imprisonment; but of course that’s not mandatory.

But when the no-confidence motion was passed by the National Assembly on the 21 of December, it meant 90 days later they should have had an election. Everyone in Guyana is aware that that is not happening, the people who are charged with bringing an election is the Elections Commission and they are not taking any steps to do what they should be doing,” he said.

Patterson and the three Government-nominated GECOM were criminally charged for conspiracy to breach the Constitution of Guyana – given the failure to hold General and Regional Elections, as constitutionally mandated, following the passage of the no-confidence motion.

Article 162 (1) of the Constitution states clearly that: “The Elections Commission shall have such functions connected with or relating to the registration of electors or the conduct of elections as are

conferred upon it by or under this Constitution or, subject thereto, any Act of Parliament.”

Such an act of Parliament, includes a no-confidence motion, which was passed in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018 – making March 21, 2019 the deadline within which elections should have been held.

Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

Article 106 (7) goes on to state that: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

The validity of the no-confidence motion was upheld by the Legislature, as indicated in Resolution 101. It was also upheld by the Chief Justice (ag) on January 31, 2019 – a decision for which no stay has been granted by the Appeal Court, where the APNU+AFC Coalition Government is, currently, with its challenge to the vote on the no-confidence motion.

20

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

APNU+AFC Coalition government’s misleading of Guyanese people EXPOSED U

sing state resources, the Director of Public Information, Imran Khan, is a message to Guyanese people, peddled misleading notions, relative to the validity of the no-confidence motion vote, the related Constitutional provisions and the consequences of the vote.

IMRAN KHAN: The Chief Justice presented a ruling on January 31, 2019, which articulated her legal opinion on the issue of that infamous vote in Parliament on December 21, 2018.

FACT: The Acting Chief Justice, Roxxane George-Wiltshire, gave a ruling of the High Court, not an opinion.

IMRAN KHAN: Elections cost several billion dollars and monies have not been budgeted in 2019 for GECOM to hold elections.

FACT: GECOM’s budget allocation for 2019 was a massive $5.37B. To have these monies used for the purposes of holding General and Regional Elections is not impossible.

IMRAN KHAN: Now about this issue of resignation. Guyana cannot be left leaderless and without a Government. How can there be a country with no Government, no President, no Cabinet, no ministers? It is madness to think that the country can have no government. To have no government would result in complete anarchy and chaos. For this government to resign and leave the country leaderless would be irresponsible and a dereliction of duty and a betrayal of those who elected the Coalition to office.

FACT: The Constitution says following the passage of a no-confidence motion, the Cabinet shall resign – not the Government. There is a distinction between the Cabinet and the Government. The Government remains in place to ensure routine functions are carried out, such as the payment of public servants, and the President remains the president until a new President is sworn in.

These were communicated via a programme titled ‘The current political situation’ and this week the Mirror Newspaper will contrast what Khan said with the FACTS.

IMRAN KHAN: Monies were budgeted for House-to-House registration to allow for a clean voters’ list. It is known that tens of thousands of dead persons remain on the old voters’ list, which is heavily bloated.

FACT: There has been no approval from the Commission – the three Opposition-nominated Commissioners, the three-Government nominated Commissioner and the Chairman of GECOM – for House-to-House registration to be done.

Removing the names of dead persons on the voters’ list does not demand a new House-to-House registration, as this is an administrative task that can be completed by the GECOM Secretariat working with the Guyana Registrar’s Office (GRO) – meaning that the GRO provides a list of persons who have died, with accompanying documentation, to GECOM and the names are removed from the list.

While, Khan says the list is “heavily bloated” the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, on February 5, 2019, in a Kaieteur News report, said clearly that the voters’ list is CLEAN AND VALID. Also, the existing voters’ list was used to hold Local Government Elections a mere three months ago and there was no objection to use of the list by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government.

Moreover, after the 2015 General and Regional Elections, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) called for a new house-to-house registration to be held and this was rejected by the Coalition Government – raising questions as to the motive of the Coalition’s call for new Houseto-House registration at this time.

IMRAN KHAN: Back in 2014, long before the Coalition came into office, GECOM had made it clear that it needs at least six months to prepare for any unscheduled elections – six months.

There is no, therefore, that elections can be held in three months.

FACT: The Constitution of Guyana makes it clear that a successful no-confidence motion is followed by General and Regional Elections in threemonths. GECOM’s responsibility is to comply with Guyana’s Constitution.

Article 162 (1) of the Constitution states clearly that: “The Elections Commission shall have such functions connected with or relating to the registration of electors or the conduct of elections as are conferred upon it by or under this Constitution or, subject thereto, any Act of Parliament.”

IMRAN KHAN: If the CCJ were to rule that the vote was validly passed on December 21, 2018, then it would be incumbent on the Opposition to act responsibly and vote for an extension to allow GECOM to prepare for elections.

Anything other than this would be to hold Guyana and Guyanese to ransom and under siege.

FACT: The Leader of the Opposition has called on the Coalition Government to have GECOM start preparations for General and Regional Elections, repeatedly since the December 1, 2018 vote on the motion of no-confidence.

The Government has failed to do so and in failing to do so has, effectively, frustrated the 90-day deadline imposed by the Constitution. The ruling of the High Court in January 31, 2019 made it clear that the clock on the 90-day timeline did not stop ticking.

The Opposition Leader has made it clear that the Parliamentary Opposition acted reasonably to date and responsibility for the constitutional crisis, which Guyana will find itself in after March 19, lies solely at the feet of the APNU+AFC Coalition.

The Leader of the Opposition has also decried the Coalition’s stalling of GECOM’s work to ready itself for General and Regional Elections, as well as its failure to act in a ‘good faith’.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

IMRAN KHAN: Guyana will only head to a Constitutional crisis if he, as Opposition Leader, acts irresponsibly and does not agree for Parliament to vote on an extension, by a two-thirds majority. It is he and his Parliamentarians who would have to vote for an extension of time.

FACT: The position of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is that both the legislature and the judiciary have spoken and the Government should proceed towards preparations for early General and Regional Elections, expected before the end of March 2019 – in compliance with the Constitution. Non-compliance with the constitution is what would lead Guyana towards a constitutional crisis.

Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

Meanwhile, clause (7) goes on to state that: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

IMRAN KHAN: The life of the current, old voters’ list comes to an end on April 30, 2019, therefore houseto-house registration is inevitable once this time comes.

FACT: House-to-House registration is not an automatic, once the list expires. Since the 2015 General and Regional Elections, to keep the list valid and updated, cycles of continuous registration have been held to allow persons who turned 18-yearsold to register and to allow persons who moved residences to transfer their names from the area they currently resided, among other things.

IMRAN KHAN: The Constitution is very clear. It says in Article 106 (6) that, “Notwithstanding, the government shall remain in office.”

FACT: Khan misquotes the Constitution. Article 106 (6) does not say what he claims.

Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

Article 106 (7) goes on to state that: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

IMRAN KHAN: If the CCJ rules that the vote was valid then elections will have to be called at a time when GECOM is prepared and ready to hold elections.

FACT: If the CCJ rules that the vote was valid, with no stay of the High Court ruling being granted, the 90-day timeline as prescribed by the Constitution remains in place. According to this timeline, General and Regional Elections have to be held before the end of March 2019.

IMRAN KHAN: There is no question of resignation until the CCJ rules finally, until the new elections are held and until the new government takes office.

FACT: The Acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire, in her January 31, 2019, ruling said: “I therefore find that Cabinet is not required to resign with all convenient speed, as the resignation under Article 106(6), in my view, takes immediate effect following the defect of the Government in a vote of confidence by a majority of all elected members of the National Assembly. In this case, Cabinet must be taken to have resigned with immediate effect from the evening of December 21, 2018, and all functions or duties provided in any law to be performed specifically by Cabinet must have ceased from that time.”

This ruling has not been stayed by the Appeal Court – therefore it stands.

IMRAN KHAN: It is also known that tens of thousands of young people who would have turned 18 since 2015 are not on the list. These persons have to be registered to vote.

They are first time voters and to deny them their constitutional right to vote would be voter suppression and wholly undemocratic.

FACT: GECOM has held continuous registration since the 2015 General and Regional Elections so persons of voting age would already be list.

IMRAN KHAN: Guyana has filed an appeal in the Appeal Court and will the verdict of that Court. If the Appeal Court, which is a higher court that the High Court where the Chief Justice presides, overrules her ruling then the status quo remains and elections are due in 2020.

FACT: The status quo cannot “remain” in place, since the Acting Chief Justice, did not grant a stay in her ruling. This means that the ruling of the High Court stipulates what is the current order of the day, which is that: the APNU+AFC Coalition Cabinet stood resigned once the vote on the no-confidence motion was carried; and the Government remains in place for three months until elections are held.

In her ruling, the Acting Chief Justice said: “The majority required by Article 106(6), being a majority of all elected members of the National Assembly is at least thirty-three (33) members. As a result of the finding above, the no confidence motion is carried as a requisite majority was obtained by a vote of thirty-three – thirty-two (33-32). “…the President and the Ministers cannot therefore remain in Government beyond the three months within which elections are required to be held “…I therefore find that Cabinet is not required to resign with all convenient speed, as the resignation under Article 106(6), in my view, takes immediate effect following the defect of the Government in a vote of confidence by a majority of all elected members of the National Assembly. In this case, Cabinet must be taken to have resigned with immediate effect from the evening of December 21, 2018, and all functions or duties provided in any law to be performed specifically by Cabinet must have ceased from that time.”

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

APNU+AFC gov’t forcing fictions on the Guyanese people

A

fter three years since taking office, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, published a list of 231 so called ‘achievements’ in May 2018.

However, a close look at the list, revealed Government’s desperation in trying to find ‘successes’. For example, the Government claimed “lower electricity rates” as an achievement, but listed this one point at least two times in the list of 231. A second example shows that the

1. FICTION: Four Budgets in three years FACT: All four budgets introduced policies that negatively impacted working class Guyanese and the productive sectors. Over 200 new taxes and fees were introduced. Others were increased astronomically.

4. FICTION: Youth skills training provided through BIT, HEYS FACT: The BIT is a PPP/C initiative. HEYS was introduced by the APNU+AFC Government, then the decision was made to scrap it.

Notably, HEYS had replaced the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP), which was an initiative under the former PPP/C government. When the Coalition Government took power, the 1972 Amerindian community service officers who were part of the YEAP programme were fired.

7. FICTION: Created over 5000 jobs FACT: Since May 2015, over 25,000 Guyanese have lost their jobs. Government’s claim of creating over 5,000 jobs has been challenged. To date, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has not responded and has not said where these 5,000 jobs were created.

10. FICTION: State Assets Recovery Unit set up FACT: SARA did not legally exist until May 2018.

The State Assets Recovery Act was only assented to by President David Granger on May 4, 2018 – over one year after it was passed in the National Assembly by a government majority, despite objections voiced by the Parliamentary Opposition.

As such, queries have been raised about SARA’s operations prior to Granger’s move to assent to the SARA Act – specifically as it relates to how monies were allocated to the State Assets Recovery Agency for the year 2018 Budget to acquire an office at Lot 56 Main and New Market Streets, SARA letterhead, staff, etc., prior to that date (May 4, 2018), when the agency did not legally exist?”

APNU+AFC Coalition claimed the work of private companies as their own success, when it listed “4G internet” in its list of 231. The work to bring better internet services to the Guyanese people was done by the private telecommunications companies.

This week, the Mirror, by simply looking at 30 of the Government’s claims, will expose the FICTIONS peddled by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government and will detail the actual facts.

2. FICTION: $50,000 Christmas Bonus in 2015 and $25,000 Christmas Bonus in 2016 FACT: No attention has been given to increasing the salaries of public servants – teachers, policemen, nurses, etc. since the APNU+AFC Government took office. The two bonuses were one-off payments for only two years.

5. FICTION: Sugar industry right-sized fo5r self sufficiency through diversification FACT: There have been no efforts in the direction of diversification. While government said it has “right-sized” the sugar industry, all it did was close down major sugar estates – leaving thousands of sugar workers on the breadline – in the worst mass firing in Guyana’s history.

3. FICTION: Training opportunities for GuySuCo workers FACT: No substantive support has been given to the 7000+ sugar workers who were fired by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. Government’s unwillingness to support the sacked sugar workers has been evidence in the fact that the government broke the law and did not pay the workers their full severance. It was seen again when Government refused to say if was informing the sacked sugar workers that millions were available under the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme, which is supposed to provide financial support for entrepreneurial ventures and create income-generating opportunities, etc.

6. FICTION: Reduce the sugar industry dependence on the national coffers

FACT: There has been no move in this direction, not even the start of a feasibility study to assess such a plan.

FACT: The sugar industry’s dependence on the national coffers has not been reduced. In fact the national treasury is exposed with the borrowing of $30B, via bonds issued at 4.75 per cent, since the borrowing has been backed by a government-guarantee.

11. FICTION: Special organized Crime Unit operational

9. FICTION: Lower Electricity rates

FACT: Three years of being operations under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, not a single case against money launderers has been advanced. SOCU has only been involved in cases filed against former government officials, one of which has already been thrown out of the courts. Also, in the case SOCU brought against GBTI, the expert witness fielded by the Unit was also rejected by courts, which ruled that the ‘expert’ was in fact ‘no expert’.

SOCU has been involved in a number of controversial operations. These include the high-profile car chase of the wife of a People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP), which resulted in the death of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant Robert Pyle and his wife Stacy, along with another civilian in a smash-up on Carifesta Avenue in December 2015 – an incident that remains the subject of many unanswered questions.

The Unit’s establishment was part of Guyana's international obligations to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework and was intended to support the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). The mandate of the SOCU, as acknowledged in the protocols, is to address investigations, detection and preparation of criminal investigative reports and case files for prosecutions of financial crimes, including money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Little to nothing has been done by SOCU, under the current APNU+AFC Government, which fits the reason for SOCU’s establishment.

FACT: Electricity rates were subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) in 2017, meaning that electricity costs were increased, not lowered.

8. FICTION: Plans to bridge Essequibo River

12. FICTION: Outstanding court settlement paid FACT: Court settlements have been subject to intense questioning, as it relates to the how these settlements were reached. The last big court settlement related to the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) matter. The sum owed by DDL, according to the GRA assessment, was $5.392B from 2001 to 2006. The settlement saw DDL paying only $1.5B and also writes off all possible liabilities in respect of Excise Tax up to March 9, 2016. Since then, Banks DIH has filed a case against the Coalition government, saying that DDL was given special treatment. In the meantime, several questions asked about the DDL settlement remain unanswered. The questions asked include: Was an assessment of DDL’s liabilities in respect of Excise Tax for the period 2006 to 2016 done and what was the sum of that liability?; Who negotiated the settlement?; Is it legal? Was the settlement approved by Cabinet or the Board of the GRA?; On what principles was the sum of $1.5B arrive at? And How many other deals have been concluded or are being negotiated?

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

APNU+AFC gov’t forcing fictions on the Guyanese people 13. FICTION: New Guyana Election Chairman appointed FACT: The 84-year-old GECOM Chairman was unilaterally and un-constitutionally appointed, in breach of 25 years of practice and common understanding of the constitutional procedures that have to be followed for such an appointment to be made.

14. FICTION: The establishment of three new towns FACT: The towns were established without consultation and in some cases encroached on titled Amerindian Lands in breach of laws --and showing that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has no qualms about breaking the laws of Guyana.

15. FICTION: Improved education attainment FACT: The 2017 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Guyana – released by the United States of America’s (USA) State Department – underscores a major failure of the APNU+AFC Coalition government. Page 11 of the 207 report states that: “The standard of living in indigenous communities was lower than that of most citizens, and they had limited access to education and health care.”

In contrast, the 2015 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Guyana, on page 14, said: “All indigenous communities had primary schools, and as of 2012, there were 13 secondary schools in remote regions. All indigenous communities had school dormitories that housed students at government’s expense. Government programmes trained health workers, who staffed health facilities in most communities.”

16. FICTION: Free transportation for school children FACT: A total of $1.7B was taken away from public schools when the $10,000 cash grant was scrapped. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government says it has provided buses, but these do not serve all public school children. The cash grant was given to every public school child.

17. FICTION: Provision of medical equipment FACT: Shortages continue to be reported. And with the dust barely settled over the $632M drugs and medical supplies procurement scandal, sole-sourcing of $366.9M of drugs and medical supplies in 2017 has once again brought into question decisions by the Ministry of Public Health – and the likely of increasing corruption at that Ministry. As was the case with the spending of $605M, the Ministry – headed by Volda Lawrence – claims that the spending of the $366.9M was to cover emergency expenditures. Documents revealed that a company, HDM Labs Inc. – owned by a supporter of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government – was handpicked over three others that went through tendering process.

18. FICTION: De-politicized the National Toshaos Council FACT: The NTC is not a political body. It is the elected body that represents Amerindians in Guyana. As such, claims of de-politicizing the NTC have been viewed as APNU+AFC rhetoric.

19. FICTION: Extended the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) programme FACT: Not a single Amerindian village has received a land title under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Sydney Allicock, admitted that he failed to do any work with the ALT programme, which gave the indigenous people legal rights to their communities. “I have not been able to title any village,” Allicock had said in May 2018.

Notably, after taking office, the Coalition Government, sent home the entire unit dealing with the Amerindian Land Titling programme. The Project Management Unit was ben established in June 2014 to support the implementation of the project.

A total of US$10.7M was earned by the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government and left for the purpose of completing the ALT programme.

20. FICTION: Piracy smashed FACT: Less than two months ago, a piracy attack led to several deaths of local fishermen.

The bodies of some of the fishermen have still not been found.

21. FICTION: Major criminal gangs smashed, members prosecuted FACT: There has been no such report. Also, no cases in Guyana’s court have substantiated this claim.

22. FICTION: Crime rate down FACT: As of June 2018, a whopping 304 cases of robbery under arms, where firearms were used, were recorded at the end of June 2018, marking an increase compared to last year. Another 116 cases of robbery under arms, where other instruments were used, were also recorded for that month. There were also 28 other cases of robberies, as well as 73 cases of robbery with violence. Robbery with aggravation cases numbered 30. Larceny from persons numbered 62, while burglary cases totaled 112 and break an entry with larceny totaled 498. In total these cases numbered 1,223. There were 44 murders. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government continues to come in for criticisms over its inaction to address the current crime rate.

23. FICTION: Establishment of the Department of Environment FACT: There is no Department of Environment as of July 2018.

24. FICTION: Freedom of the Press restored FACT: The Guyana Press Association has blasted Coalition gov’t over ‘unmistakable’ signals of Executive control since it took office.

The Association cited other acts that include: The continued role of the Director of Public Information as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited, publishers of the Guyana Chronicle; Direction from a senior government Minister on coverage of his office to the Editor- in-Chief; Direction being given to the Chronicle for stories sent for his approval once it has to do with his office or the PNC, the main party in the governing Coalition; and weekly meetings of the Prime Minister with senior executives of the state media.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

APNU+AFC gov’t forcing fictions on the Guyanese people 25. FICTION: Constitutional Reform process initiated

27. FICTION: Code of conduct for public official completed

FACT: There has been no progress on the issue of Constitutional Reform.

FACT: There is no Code of Conduct in place.

A draft was proposed and was met with widespread criticisms. Even the Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. said government’s proposed code of conduct is still deficient in many respects. The body expressed the view that the “lack of specificity appears as low commitment to integrity in public office” and it can ultimately impede the effectiveness of the Code and erode public confidence.

26. FICTION: Improved transparency FACT: The APNU+AFC Coalition Government has been criticised as failing to honour of the promise of transparency. Among the untruths told by the government to the Guyanese people is the fact that Guyana did not receive the US$18M signing bonus from ExxonMobil. This lie was told for over a year to the Guyanese people, despite the fact that questions about the signing bonus were asked. Finally, documents leaked to the media, exposed the Government lie

a recent news conference.

He charged that

28. FICTION: Family Court opened FACT: The Family Division of the High Court began hearing cases since May 6, 2016. The Family Court was a PPP/C initiative. Before the APNU+AFC Coalition Government took office, the Family Court building was completed and handed over to Government.

29. FICTION: Successful gun amnesty programme FACT: During the amnesty for unlicensed firearms in 2015, scores of Amerindians handed in weapons used to protect their cattle and crops and support their livelihoods, with the promise of receiving licences. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government delayed the return to April 2018 and has now delayed it again, until the end of July 2018.

This failure to deliver in a timely manner on a promise made has prevented the amnesty programme from being deemed a success.

30. FICTION: A new drugs procurement system introduced FACT: Health Minister, Volda, Lawrence had stated revised drug procurement system which will bring resolution to the ongoing drug shortage throughout the country is expected to be implemented by the month of June 2016. It is now July 2018.

After taking office, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government scrapped the old method used to procure and deliver drugs and medical supplies across Guyana, despite the fact that it worked.

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

PPP/C details priorities to be included in Manifesto ahead of General and Regional Elections The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders is working on a detailed Manifesto, which will elaborate on the Party’s policies for improving the lives of all Guyanese.

Some of the priority actions of the next PPP/C Government will be to: 1. Restore– the $10,000 cash grant to school children. The APNU+AFC took away $1.67B per year, a total of $8.35B from Guyanese children.

2. Reinstate the water subsidies to pensioners. The APNU+AFC removed $500M in subsidies per year amounting to a $2.5B burden that had to be paid by our elderly.

3. Reverse VAT on essential services including water, electricity, and health care. The APNU+AFC imposed this on Citizens which led to billions in tax collection from Guyanese people and escalated the cost of living.

4. Reopen the closed sugar estates. Over 7,000 persons lost their jobs directly and another 4,000 lost their livelihoods indirectly.

5. Restore zero-rated VAT for machinery and equipment for agricultural, mining and forestry industries. For example, a tractor or excavator now attracts in excess of $5M in additional taxes.

6. Reverse cost of license and permits for doing business and accessing Government services. The APNU + AFC increased over 200 fees, e.g. vending licenses increased from $12,500 to a burdensome $65,000. This, added to the cost of living, hampered small business development.

7. Reverse land rents and drainage and irrigation charges. These have moved up in varying degrees, from $2,500 to $293,000 per acre, a policy that is suffocating many sectors including agriculture and tourism.

8. Remove age limits on vehicles. The APNU+AFC added at least $1M to the cost per vehicle, an unnecessary hardship for those aspiring to own a vehicle, especially young people.

9. Remove the restriction on used tyres. The imposition of this restriction increased the cost of tyres by 300%.

10. Reverse VAT on exports.

11. Reverse VAT on building materials.

12. Reinstate the joint services bonus. The APNU+AFC in a Grinch-like move took away the Christmas bonus from the joint services.

13. Remove VAT on data. The APNU+AFC has taxed the internet and your cell phone data.

14. Reverse the 2 A.M curfew. The arrogant implementation of this measure has not helped to address the noise nuisance issue and has affected quality of life and hurt job creation and businesses.

In addition to correcting these draconian impositions, the next PPP/C Government pledges to: 1. Create 50,000 jobs in the first five years.

2. Assist small businesses through the implementation of programmes to help small businesses grow by providing technical advice, small grants, loans, and training for workers. Women entrepreneurship will receive special attention.

3. Deliver 8,000 to 10,000 new house lots per year.

4. Implement a programme for affordable financing for home ownership.

5. Deliver quality health care and end drug shortages.

6. Improve the quality of and access to education at every level including offering 20,000 persons online University education.

7. Implement measures to expand the capability and increase the effectiveness of the security forces so that people can once again feel protected in their homes, on the streets and in workplaces.

8. Create conditions for our young people to prosper, realise their dreams and to involve them in all levels of Government.

9. Ensure better working conditions and remuneration for teachers, healthcare workers and other public servants.

10. Improve infrastructure (roads, wharves, bridges, airstrips, drainage etc) in Georgetown, other Towns and Villages across Guyana.

11. Extend and improve Government services and ICT on the Coast and in the Hinterland.

12. Ensure that revenue from Oil and Gas is not squandered and stolen and leads to the improvement of the lives of ALL GUYANESE. 13. Create the conditions and strengthen the institutions to expand and protect the civil, cultural and human rights of all Guyanese.

14. Improve governance, including expanding and strengthening measures aimed at fighting corruption.

15. Protect our national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The PPP/C has said that it is time to restore Guyana to the path of progress and prosperity.

Since taking office, the APNU+AFC cabal has put forward five budgets, spent $1.3 trillion, borrowed US $ 900M and increased taxes by approximately $88B per annum.

They are spending every year $1.6 B more for food allowances, $1.1B more for rentals, $1.2B more for local travel among other things, as part of their extravagant lifestyle. Meanwhile over 30,000 Guyanese have lost their jobs. The cost of living has skyrocketed and health care, education and quality of life have deteriorated rapidly.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

Positions from Freedom House this week (A look at the latest statements made by the People’s Progressive Party)

Phagwah speaks to the triumph of good over evil T

he joyous festival of Phagwah or Holi is once again upon us and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) would like to take this opportunity to extend greetings to all Guyanese, especially members of the Hindu community.

Phagwah has become a national occasion that Guyanese from all spheres of society look forward to, not just for the excitement it brings, but also for the opportunity it affords in coming together through interaction and sharing in the spirit of what it truly represents.

The diverse colours that is associated with the festival and which symbolizes

the commencement of the spring season, epitomizes our nation’s rich diversity.

Like all of our national festivals, the significance of Phagwah speaks to, amongst others, the triumph of good over evil. That universal belief is firmly rooted in societies and offers hope in the face of adversity and despondency. Let this comfort us as we confront our challenges.

As Guyanese participate in the various events across the country to mark the occasion, we extend best wishes and urge tolerance and respect in the celebrations.

SHUBH HOLI TO ALL!

Eco Atlantic upgrades oil and gas resources in Guyana field

A

n oil and gas field off Guyana’s coast and owned by Tullow, Total and Eco Atlantic has about 3.9 billion barrels of oil equivalent, a third more than announced in an estimate released in September, Eco said.

The Orinduik Block is located next to an ExxonMobil field, which has an estimated 5 billion barrels of oil equivalent. The Exxon discovery made Guyana one of the world’s most closely watched oil basins.

Tullow, the operator of the Orinduik Block has 60 percent stake, Total has 25 percent and Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas has 15 percent.

Eco said Orinduik Block contained 3.5 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 2.84 trillion cubic feet of associated gas, based on a metric called unrisked prospective resources P50 (Best). It said the upgrade followed additional 3D processing and interpretation of seismic data.

The company said first well would be drilled in June and partners in the project were in the process of approving a second well.

“We hope to confirm drilling plans for well number two in the near future to take advantage of the economics of our rig on the block,” it said. (Reuters)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 MARCH, 2019

Three-month ‘clock never stopped... for the Guyana Government to follow all requirements outlined in the Constitution of Guyana following the December 21, 2018, no-confidence vote. Days before, however, United Nations Resident Coordinator Mikiko Tanaka urged the State to demonstrate its integrity and respect Guyana’s Constitution. “Recent political developments triggered by the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly are a test for Guyana’s strength and integrity with regard to the effectiveness of the rule of law and governance,” Tanaka said. She further lauded acting Chief Justice Roxanne George for demonstrating the

independence and integrity of the Judiciary when it comes to protecting the Constitution of Guyana.

Attempts by the Parliamentary Opposition to engage President David Granger have ended without any agreement.

On December 21, 2018, the no-confidence motion brought by the parliamentary Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) against the Government succeeded when former AFC Member of Parliament Charandass Persaud broke rank and made a conscience vote in favour of the motion.

With the Government’s defeat, the next steps are

spelt out in the Constitution of Guyana. Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.” Article 106 (7) goes on to state that: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall re-

Armed men dressed as school students rob money-changer

A

New Amsterdam money-changer was on Saturday (March 16, 2019) robbed of an undisclosed sum of cash, and had his motor car confiscated by two bandits dressed in school uniforms.

One of the men was dressed as a secondary school male student while the other was as a female.

They both were armed with

hand guns, and acted as a couple.

The victim — Robin Busgith, 49, of Lot 173 Bermine Scheme, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) — was held at gunpoint moments after he exited his motor car. Busgith added that one of the bandits held him at gunpoint while the other held onto the bag he was car-

rying at the time. According to the businessman, after he released the bag containing the money, the bandits ran towards his Toyota 192 Carina motor car, PGG 8582.

The female looking bandit took the wheel and sped off the scene, leaving the businessman shocked and helpless.

Investigations are ongoing.

Caretaker found dead in Castello Housing Scheme A

man was found dead on Monday (March 18, 2019) in the yard of the house he was care taking with blood stains in his nostrils and mouth. Dead is 50-year-old Lancelot Gransoult of Lot 22 Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown.

Based on information received, the police were informed that a body was ly-

ing with what appeared to be blood stains on and around the body. Police responded promptly and cordoned off the area. At the time of the discovery, the man was clad in a pair of long blue pants, was shirtless and he was lying in the yard of the two storey building.

The police stated that a bucket containing what appears to be blood was found

next to the man’s body and dried blood stains were seen in area of his mouth and nose.

However, no marks of violence were seen on the body.

Gransoult’s body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour awaiting a post mortem.

Investigations are ongoing.

(From back page)

sign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

On the night of December 21, 2018, immediately after the successful vote, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, at an impromptu news conference held at Public Buildings (Parliament) in Committee Room 1, said: “The confidence motion was put the floor and the no-confidence motion was passed.

The options that are available after a no-confidence motion is passed in the House is dictated by the Constitution, Article 106….the Government remains in office until such time as elections are called….the Constitution

says elections in 90 days….

The process in the National Assembly was an open and transparent process….

Parliamentary democracy triumphed.”

On December 22, 2018, a statement released by the Ministry of the Presidency, quoted President Granger as saying: “We will do everything necessary to facilitate the smooth functioning of General and Regional Elections bearing in mind the need for normal governmental functions to continue uninterrupted.”

On the same day, a statement from the Alliance For Change (AFC), read: “Pursuant to the constitutional

requirement for elections, the party has begun to plan, prepare and mobilize.”

AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman, followed up on his Party’s statement with one of his own, where he said: “This no-confidence motion has been a wake-up call for us long before it was even voted on. The vote has made the concerns of the people even more acute. The AFC and Government have recognized this as a significant political indicator and it will not be business as usual.”

After the March 19, 2019 deadline Coalition Government is considered unconstitutional, illegitimate and illegal.

Armed bandits rob Bai Shan Lin employees

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everal armed bandits stripped four employees attached to Chinese logging company, Bai Shan Lin at Moblissa, Linden-Soesdyke Highway on Sunday (March 17, 2019) and relieved them of cash and other valuables.

One of the employees was also shot to the hand.

The incident occurred at about 02:00h at the company’s work site which consists of several wooden camps.

Based on information received, the first victim, a 25-year-old labourer who was keeping guard he saw two men dressed in black,

one sporting a hoodie and another armed with a knife.

Soon after, another bandit approached him brandishing a handgun. One of the bandits reportedly placed a knife to the man’s neck and relieved him of the cash he had in his possession.

The bandits then inquired about the whereabouts of the ‘Chinese men’, while three others joined in, holding the employee at gun point.

He was however, forced to take the armed men to the camp of the second victim, a 50-year-old Chinese National who was sleeping at

the time. He was struck to the forehead with the gun and relieved of his cash. The third victim, a 50-year-old Chinese national was also gun butted to the head. The fourth victim, a 42-year-old service man of Silvertown, Wismar, Linden was shot to his left hand after he attempted to run.

The armed men then made good their escape while the injured employees were taken to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) for treatment.

Investigations are ongoing.

CCJ hearing of case against GECOM Chairman an ‘important component of struggle for democracy, constitutionalism’ – Nandlall F

ormer Attorney General and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Member, Anil Nandlall, has met with officials of the Registry of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), to urge an early hearing of an appeal filed in relation to the unilateral appointment of Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The move follows the filing of an application to

the CCJ to fix an early date for the hearing and determination of the appeal pending in that Court, in relation to Patterson’s appointment.

Nandlall has explained that after his visit to the Court, he was informed that his concerns and apprehensions will be conveyed earliest to the court’s president, Mr. Justice Adrian Saunders.

“The early hearing and determination of this appeal is an important component of the struggle for democracy

and constitutionalism ongoing in the country,” he said.

The Guyana Court of Appeal on October 18, 2018 upheld a High Court ruling on President David Granger’s unilateral appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The case was filed Nandlall, on behalf of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha.

In June 2018, Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne

George-Wiltshire, ruled that President Granger was in order when he unilaterally appointed 85-year-old Justice (rtd) James Patterson as the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission. That ruling led to an appeal being filed with the Appeal Court.

Patterson was unilaterally appointed as Chairman on GECOM on October 19, 2017.

His appointment came after a meeting on the selection of a GECOM Chair-

person, between Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, and President Granger, which only lasted five minutes.

At that meeting the third list of nominees submitted

by Jagdeo was rejected by Granger.

However, at a previous meeting on June 12, 2017 – the meeting before Granger made a unilateral appointment – there was an agreement on what would be the way forward, if the third list was rejected. The June 12, 2017 joint statement said: “It was also agreed that a high-level team would be assembled representing the President and the Leader of the Opposition which will begin to work immediately on exploring modalities to bring a resolution to this

matter in the event that the list is rejected.”

Given that there was a joint agreement, the Parliamentary Opposition has argued that Granger acted in bad faith when he unilaterally appointed a GECOM Chairman.

Article 161(2) provides for the appointment of a Chairman based on a consensual process in which a list of six persons, “not unacceptable to the President,” is submitted by the Opposition Leader. A proviso included in the law allows for the appointment to be made unilaterally, where the Opposition Leader fails to submit a list “as provided for” – but Jagdeo submitted three lists, which were all rejected by President Granger.

Three-month ‘clock never stopped ticking’ – British envoy

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ritish High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregory Quinn on Monday (March 18, 2019) reminded that the clock has never stopped ticking on the constitutionally-mandated elections which is due on March 21, 2019.

The High Commissioner was at the time speaking at the 129th Annual General Meeting of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) at the Duke Lodge, Georgetown.

Quinn said, “It is not, however, my role to interpret that Constitution. But what I will say is that the clock is ticking following the no-confidence vote in December. A legal process is ongoing, I recognise that, but that clock has not been stayed. I, therefore, urge, indeed implore, the political leadership of this country to get together and agree [on] a constitutional way forward. “…all political parties have a responsibility to act honestly and truthfully and to act for the betterment of every citizen – not their own pockets or to their own narrow interests. Politicians need to put the people first.”

Last week, Quinn said the Constitution is the supreme law of Guyana and the “three-month clock, which is still ticking, it hasn’t been stayed yet.” In a publicized interview, he said, “…the

only other way of getting through that is the political leadership, for both sides to come to an agreement… given that ticking clock, it is necessary for both sides to come together and come to a solution as to how to resolve that issue, so we don’t get to the question of what happens the day after.”

Since the December 21, 2018, passage of the motion of no-confidence against the Coalition Government, calls have been made by various stakeholders including foreign diplomats here for the Government to abide and respect the Constitution and set a date for elections. The foreign missions here have been paying keen attention to the developments in Guyana since the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) filed the No-confidence Motion against the Government.

Representatives from the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) have also echoed similar calls for the Guyana Government to adhere to the Constitution.

In February, the EU’s local mission warned of the need for constitutional compliance, urging in a statement that democratic procedures and the rule of law be respected and upheld. The EU also called for free and fair elections to be held and (Turn to page 27)

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