GCCI to Granger

18 Delays with final declaration must end – PSC

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) stressed that it welcomed the comprehensive and detailed decision and rulings of the Chief Justice (ag), particularly on the matter of the validity of the Recount and, most importantly, on the relationship between the Chief Election Officer and GECOM.

And stressed that the delays in a final declaration of results from the March 2020 Elections must end.

In a statement on Tuesday (July 21, 2020) the PSC said, “The Private Sector Commission notes that the Chief Justice (ag) has specifically ruled that GECOM must declare the result of the elections only from the data of the Recount and that ‘the view expressed that any the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, to the Permanent Council, the joint statement of the CARICOM representatives at the OAS, the serious presentations and stern warnings by the Ambassadors to the OAS from the Antigua, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and the USA, the arrogant retort of Williams that “… all of this is premature( ie OAS)…the APNU+AFC Coalition had won the elections and have the majority of votes…. there could be no peaceful transition as there had been no declaration” made a mockery of the OAS and the Charter it stands for. That the Granger-led de facto government believes that the OAS is of no consequence is the same contempt that it holds of the CARICOM, Commonwealth and European Union. All have been targeted and accused of interference and told to stay out of Guyana’s business. irregularities would have to be addressed by an election petition’.

“The Private Sector Commission has also noted that the Chief Justice (ag) has ruled that the Chief Election Officer is subject to the direction and control of the Commission in submitting his report to GECOM.

“The Private Sector Commission, therefore, wishes to encourage the Chairman of GECOM to sanction no further delay in arriving at the declaration of the elections result from the Recount and to move with all due haste to the swearing in of the newly elected President of Guyana.”

All considered, the PSC also rejected – “without reservation” – the position of the Guyana Public Service As we say in Guyana “if you hard ears you will feel”, the problem is all of our people, innocent of this travesty, will feel.

In fact so dangerous is this situation that at the very same time as the Secretary General Almargo was saying that “..the current situation serves no purpose in Guyana. We call to stop using the judiciary branch to avoid bringing a solution to the country. It's is time to make decisions and protect democracy and the will of the people expressed in the elections”, the rigging Mafioso had proceeded to file an appeal to all of the Chief Justice rulings of the day before. This too is an affront and yet another indication to Guyanese and to the world that this gang of brigands will not concede defeat and will not accept the results.

I, like so many Guyanese, was ashamed and shocked as this travesty was displayed on the international stage, Union (GPSU) Observer Team, which claimed that ‘the result of the March 2nd 2020 General and Regional Elections could not be credible’. The Commission said, “The Private Sector Commission finds it extraordinary and is extremely disappointed that the GPSU, presuming to speak for all Public Servants, would arrive at any decision other than to recognize, as every other Local and International Observer Mission has done, that the March 2nd elections were, in fact, conducted in a wholly credible manner and that alleged, undocumented and unproved irregularities listed in the Observer Reports of the Recount, as the Chief Justice (ag) has ruled, are matters for an Election

Op-Ed: Granger and his gang of brigands continue... (From page 8)

Petition.”

embarrassed to see our nation’s international reputation in tatters.

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Golding made it clear that the people of Guyana are not to be blamed for the current electoral crisis in Guyana. In fact, he commended the people of Guyana for their patience over the past four months. I console myself with Golding’s closing remarks that “the people of Guyana do not deserve this,” but also brace myself for the future as he said “it will take years for Guyana to recover from what has transpired.”

The only ones responsible for this is Granger and his gang of brigands who have brought our nation so low and who are continuing aggressively in undermining the very democratic foundations of our nation with their desperate and despotic grasping of the reigns of government.

But this too will end that I know. T he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has made clear that the time has long gone for the APNU+AFC Coalition to “bring the curtains down on its threeringed circus” and spare the Guyanese people and nation further shame and greater anguish.

In a statement on Tuesday (July 21, 2020), FITUG said, “The applicant who sought, in our view, some most perplexing and we daresay ambitious declarations has essentially been ruled out of line by the Chief Justice and her application fell flat on its face. This latest litigation has only contributed to the inordinate delay in the finalization of the elections results which remain undeclared now going on to five (5) months.

“While we recognize Ms Jones’ attorneys have indicated their intention to appeal the Chief Justice’s to the court are not in the nation’s best interests, according to the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

And the body called on the APNU+AFC Coalition leader, David Granger, to take steps to allow a final declaration of election results and the democratic transition of government.

In a missive to Granger, the GCCI said, “It has been 141 days since our March 2, 2020 Election. The Guyanese people are tired and would like our Election process to come to an end. Excellency, we believe you have the power, as Ms Jones was an APNU+AFC Party Agent, and as her lawyers are APNU Party Agents to ask Ms. Jones to withdraw her Appeal.

“You also have the power to ask the Attorney General to not support any appeal from the Government’s side either. Excellency, I can guarantee there is very little chance of success in the Appeals’ Court because according to the Chief Justice’s decision, Ms. Jones would be asking the Court of Appeal to overturn their own statements and points raised in the Ulita erudite decision, we have to ask to what end this is being pursued. Though we uphold a litigant’s right to an appeal, we contend that this must be measured and carefully considered in the interest of justice and specifically in this matter the democratic election process which it stalemates. It appears to us that the continuation of the matter has a hopeless probability of success. We say this taking into account previous decisions which were upheld and adumbrated by Justice George in her decision. It, therefore, would be an unwelcome surprise for other Courts to walk back previous decisions especially in the absence of any credible or worthwhile submission.

“The Granger Government, which has sought to distance itself from this and previous matters, has also signaled its intention to file an appeal. By their actions, the Government has smashed Moore ruling.

“Worse yet Excellency, even if by some miracle Ms. Jones succeeded at the Court of Appeal, the absurdity of her lawyers arguing to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Judges that those same judges said that the Recount Order, Order 60, was illegal will shame us for the rest of our lives in Caribbean jurisprudence.”

The GCCI stressed that the scanty veneer of separation which may have existed in the eyes of a few. The utterances of the Attorney-General, at the conclusion of the Chief Justice’s decision, for us is ominous and, for us, has brought shame to the professionalism of the legal profession. We contend that attorneys worth their salt will not pursue matters which they are cognizant that they have not even the slimmest possibility of success. That to us can be seen as professional suicide and brings into question the ethical training which those attorneys would receive.”

The Union noted that the selfish political considerations that have driven the Coalition – aimed at holding on to executive power – continues to do more harm than good. “This too has cast shame on politicians past and present as the Coalition pursues, embarrassingly, its

GCCI to Granger: ‘Time to concede’

The continued approaches

The GCCI letter to Coalition leader, David Granger

charade,” FITUG said. Granger must act. “There are two moves that saves face for all Excellency, the first is for you to call Dr. Irfaan Ali and concede that indeed the PPP list, which he heads, has won the Election, and the second is to ask your party’s candidate Ms. Jones to not file an Appeal on the CJ’s decision,” the letter said.

The GCCI missive was signed by GCCI President, Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer.

WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020 APNU+AFC Coalition’s Polling Agent moves to Appeal Court

Advancing action to protract the legal proceeding in the latest election related court case, a High Court ruling is being appealed by lawyers representing APNU+AFC Coalition’s polling agent, Misenga Jones.

The appeal was filed on Tuesday (July 21, 2020) afternoon, less than 24 hours after a High Court ruling that dismissed Jones’ case.

Jones in the application filed by her Attorney, Mayo Robertson, is challenging the entirety of the judgment handed down by the acting Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire, on 23 grounds. out in support of using the results from the national recount as the basis for a democratic transition of government.

Brazil’s State of Roraima noted its concern about the prolonged delay in finalizing the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

In an Official Note on Thursday (July 16, 2020), it said, “The State Government of Roraima has been attentively following the presidential general election that happened in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and externs, publicly, its concern about the development of said election, especially in regards to the lengthy period in which the democratically elected candidate, Dr. Irfaan Ali, remains undeclared.

“The instability caused by actions that delay the announcement of the new president harms democracy itself and disrespects the will of the people.

“The State Government of Roraima sides with the Caribbean Court of Justice, the OAS, the European Union, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Canada in asking that the final result of the election is promptly announced and the will of the Guyanese people respected.”

Last week, the Brazilian government expressed similar sentiments and warned

The Coalition’s polling agent is seeking a ruling from the Appeal Court that the acting Chief Justice erred in law in handing down her ruling and are seeking a decision from the Appeal Court to set aside the entire judgment.

During a case management conference on Wednesday (July 22, 2020), it was ordered that all submissions, including those related to cross appeals, must be submitted by the end of Friday (July 24, 2020). The hearing is fixed for Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 10:00hours.

Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive and former Attorney about the “threat to stability” posed by the continued delays in the finalization of the electoral process. In a statement on Wednesday (July 15, 2020), Brazil said, “The Brazilian government has been following closely the developments in the general and regional elections held in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on March 2 of this year…the Brazilian government calls on Guyanese

General, Anil Nandlall, said, “An appeal has no likelihood of success. Would be just another shameless attempt to hold on to Government.”

[SEE PAGE 17 FOR REPORTING ON HIGH COURT RULING IN THIS

Brazil’s State of Roraima warns about instability due to protracted electoral process

Another country has come

CASE]

political forces to respect the popular will emanating from the elections, in line with the recent sentence of the Caribbean Court of Justice, in order to guarantee the prompt official announcement of the country’s new representatives.”

The APNU+AFC Coalition is coming under increasing regional and international pressure to allow a democratic transition of government.

Stop using judiciary to avoid solution to electoral impasse –Almagro

The Secretary General (SG) of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, has called for local political actors to “stop using the judiciary” to “avoid brining a solution” to the country’s electoral impasses. In a brief message on social media on Tuesday (July 21, 2020), he said, “The current situation serves no purpose in Guyana. We call to stop using the judiciary branch to avoid bringing a solution to the country. It's is time to make decisions and protect democracy and the will of the people expressed in the elections.”

The OAS, prior to the Secretary General’s

Party (PPP), including Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha, laid wreaths at the gravesite of the Ballot Box Martyrs – Jagan Ramessar and Bholanauth Parmanand – who lost their lives in the struggle to ensure that democracy is not thwarted and the will of the Guyanese people is not subverted.

On Election Day, July 16, 1973, Bhola

comment, addressed state of the electoral process in Guyana during a virtual meeting

Wreaths laid in remembrance of Ballot Box Martyrs

Members of the People’s Progressive

of its Permanent Council.

nauth and Ramessar were part of a crowd that had gathered outside a polling station at No. 63 Village on the Corentyne as part of a protest action. They were peacefully protesting the illegal removal of the ballot boxes from the place of poll at the end of voting. Bholanauth and Ramessar were shot and killed by a Guyana Defence Force Officer.

The 1973 incident was of the many struggles to restore democracy to Guyana.

20 Attempts made to torch Suriname Embassy in Georgetown

Investigations are ongoing by the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into an attempt to torch the Suriname Embassy, located at Anaira and New Garden Streets, Georgetown. Reports are that molotov cocktails was hurdled at the building sometime early Wednesday (July 22, 2020) morning. A security guard, who was on duty at the time of the incident, reported seeing two ‘fireball objects’ tossed in the direction of the embassy, which fell short of the building.

The Guyana Police Force has not issued a statement on the matter.

Mazaruni inmate busted with almost 2,000 grams of ‘weed’

Aconvicted prisoner was found in possession of 1,472 grams of suspected cannabis in the Mazaruni Prison compound on Tuesday (July 21, 20202) and is being processed for court.

According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), at about 07:45 hours, a prison officer was patrolling the inner perimeter of the penitentiary, when he observed the suspicious behaviour of the prisoner. The inmate was in possession of a plastic bucket. The convict on seeing the officer made a dash behind the prison's chapel and was immediately pursued and apprehended. A search of the bucket revealed the prohibited substance.

Court proceedings were thereafter initiated.

COVID-19 threatens access to medicine ‒ WHO concerned over delaying of AIDS response

The novel coronavirus mune systems, including WHO survey showed access (COVID-19) has disviral infections like hepatitis to HIV medicines has been rupted several key services and COVID-19 and fungal significantly curtailed as a including, maternal health infections, including historesult of the pandemic,” Dr. and childcare services in the plasmosis. Ghebreyesus said. past six months. In the Region of the Disruption of HIV/AIDS

Experts at the World Americas, including South services may result in death Health Organisation (WHO) America, WHO says histofor some victims, as well as are now focusing on the plasmosis is highly prevalent an increase in new cases. impact of COVID-19 on and as much 4,500 deaths are The WHO recommends the delivery of life-saving reported each year among that countries keep HIV treatment for Human Immupeople living with HIV. testing, prevention and treatnodeficiency Virus (HIV) Seventy-three countries ment services running. Also and Acquired Immune Defiacross the globe have represcribing medicines for ciency Syndrome (AIDS), as ported risks of stock-outs of longer periods can help to AIDS response has halted in antiretroviral (ARV) medimitigate the problem. Pasome countries. cines for HIV treatment in tients can be prescribed their

“Progress is stalling their country. Closure of ARVs for up to six months, because HIV prevention ports, failure of suppliers to while chain supplies are fully and testing services are not deliver the medication and functioning. reaching the groups that need limited access to health serAccording to figures them most,” Director-Genervices are among reasons for from UNAIDS, a total of al of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adthis fall-out. 38 million people is said to hanom Ghebreyesus stated. “WHO is deeply conbe living with HIV/AIDS

Many HIV-related deaths cerned about the impact of worldwide, with 1.7 milresult from infections that COVID-19 on the global lion new infections in 2019 take advantage of weak imresponse to HIV. A new alone.

Coalition brings further embarrassment to all Guyana

Dear Editor,

The FITUG, like many Guyanese, paid close attention to the Organisation of American States (OAS) Permanent Council meeting on July 21, 2020 which addressed the prevailing situation in our country. The convening of such an engagement is yet another telltale sign strong international concern about what is taking place in Guyana. It also demonstrates the seriousness of the situation that is currently unfolding and which can have several consequences for Guyanese.

The OAS, in considering the Guyana situation, received interventions from the de-facto Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Legal Affairs. The contributions of both senior Government officials could only be described, in our view, only served to bring further embarrassment to our people. Both Ministers peddled, in our view, clearly false narratives obviously, in an attempt, to mislead the OAS. This we contend is tantamount to seeking to insult the intelligence of the hemispheric body.

We had to wonder whether the Government team believed sincerely that the OAS is unaware of what is really taking place in Guyana. We consider the OAS and by extension regions of Guyana. its members most informed about Guyana’s state-of-affairs. We do not believe for any moment that the OAS to accepted the slanted opinions and cherry-picking of certain aspects of Court pronouncements by the Government. The fact that the de-facto Administration thinks it can really hoodwink the OAS and by extension the world is most humiliating.

Indeed from the interventions of our hemispheric brothers and sisters, was a vivid demonstration that they were not sidetracked or sucked in by the propaganda of the Coalition regime. They were most forthright in their calls for the APNU+AFC to accept the will of the people and to exit office. We share the view that prolongation of the process, which is quickly approaching five (5) months, must be brought to swift and peaceful end. There is need for a transition in Government as the economy tethers and the lives of thousands of Guyanese hang in the balance.

The selfish ways of a greedy few should not be allowed to persist but democracy must triumph.

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

Squandermania the common factor in public expenditures under APNU+AFC Coalition Dear Editor, needed items, but no shortage of cash for the

Leadership is an activity, not a position, bond rental contract. and that seems to be the fundamental While Team Irfaan Ali’s National Taskmistake Mr. David Arthur Granger is making force had distributed more than 75,000 food again and again. He operates as if he was hampers across the country, Team Granger, placed in a position for life. with the entire Treasury in its corner, had

However, the only certainty in life is cash to distribute only 1/12 of that output uncertainty, and when you entered the offrom Team Ali. The struggle out there is real fice, your duty was to get down to activities for most vulnerable families, and I cannot in service to the people, not hide from the understand why Mr. Granger is so indifferent work and spend valuable taxpayers’ dollars to their plight. irresponsibly on more wasteful rentals, more The evidence would illustrate that every unnecessary painting of building in green, and weekend Team Ali is in the field, offering its more executive flights. services free of cost as volunteers, as private,

As we are talking about spending, let us non-government citizens doing what the Govobserve the current expenditure on rental and ernment is being paid to do. maintenance of buildings and infrastructure And yet Mr. Granger and his Team think over the 5 years from April 2015 to March they have what it takes to manage this nation 2020, when 58 of those 60 months were under for the next 5 years if, God forbid, they are Team Granger. allowed to steal the elections. Leadership is

Over these 5 years, Team Granger literally about being clear in your purpose around the doubled spending on rental and maintenance objective of lifting all boats all the time. In of buildings and infrastructure. this case, a boat is referred to as the economic

The Bank of Guyana Report supports welfare of the Guyanese families. the conclusion that spending on rental and Clearly, the facts would show that Mr. maintenance of buildings and infrastructure Granger does not have what it takes to momoved from G$6.8 billion to G$13.1 billion. bilise others to do the difficult task of lifting

Yet these very same people have inadethese boats for the common good. quate cash to support the Guyanese people In the final analysis, time is up! It is now with food hampers and safety masks during time for Team Granger to step aside. It is time this time of dire need: the COVID-19 panto end squandermania like these overpriced demic. rental contracts to their inner circle, which

The evidence would reveal that Team Iris only contributing to the widening of the faan Ali’s National Taskforce has distributed economic divide between the Granger cabal more than 200,000 face masks across all 10 and the people. likes of Larry Singh and the Sussex Street

Meanwhile, Team Granger had money Regards, to distribute less than 1/20th of these vitally Sasenarine Singh

WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020 21 OBSERVER

Sovereignty belongs to the Guyanese people

Since the close of polls on March 2, 2020, the Guyanese people have all been witness to the numerous attempts by the APNU+AFC Coalition to rig the elections to ensure an outcome in their favour – efforts that have, fortunately, been uncovered, exposed and blocked by the opposition parties here in Guyana, and with the support of the regional and international communities.

Representatives of the regional and international communities – from CARICOM, the OAS, the Commonwealth, the Carter Center, the European Union, the United Nations (UN), the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom – have held a unified position in condemning the actions of the APNU+AFC Coalition and calling for a democratic transition of government.

MANIPULATION OF TABULATION AND RECOUNT

The condemnation came first from the international Election Observer Missions, which witnessed the entire election process, including the campaign period, the Election Day activities and then the tabulation and declaration of the results. They have all collectively stated that all the processes were free, fair and credible, but for the tabulation of results for Region 4 and the declaration by the Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

After the debacle relating to Mingo’s fraudulent declaration, it was CARICOM that brokered an agreement to have a national recount. This recount was done and revealed the PPP/C as the winner of the elections. The results of the recount was endorsed by all the observer missions, both local and international, and was deemed to be a credible basis for the final declaration of results from the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Most importantly, the CARICOM observation team, which David Granger deemed the most “legitimate interlocutor” in the process, in their report said, “The Team did not witness anything which would render de recount, and by extension, the casting of the ballot on March 02, so grievously deficient procedurally or technically.

“…the Team viewed much of the exercise as a fishing expedition designed to gather data for a possible election petition and which resulted in considerable time being wasted during the recount. Furthermore, the net was cast extremely wide in the hope of at least making a small catch and at times the anticipated harvest ended in slim pickings.

“…the Team did not view the objections raised by the APNU/AFC as materially relevant to the recount of the ballots…we simply have no evidence as to who were the ultimate beneficiaries of the alleged “ghost voting” and voter impersonation.

“…nothing that we witnessed warrants a challenge to the inescapable conclusion that the recount results are acceptable and should constitute the basis of the declaration of the results of the March 02, 2020 elections. Any aggrieved political party has been afforded the right to seek redress before the courts in the form of an election petition.

“We are, however, of the unshakable belief that the people of Guyana expressed their will at the ballot box, and as a result, the three person CARICOM Observer Team concludes that the recount results are completely acceptable.”

Despite all this the APNU+AFC Coalition, through yet another one of its acolytes, approached the Court to prevent the recount figures from being used. Guyana’s apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), summarily dismissed their case, and reiterated that the recount results be used.

The approaches to the court continue, despite the clear facts of the day. regional and international communities have been vocal in their condemnation of the current state of affairs.

The US government have even gone a step further and imposed visa restrictions on all APNU+AFC Coalition officials and persons deemed to be playing a role in defying the will of the Guyana electorate. The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, last week, advised that the restrictions could be applied to immediate family members and others. Further, both Canada and the United Kingdom have also indicated that they will follow suit with possible sanctions against those individuals who would seek to deny the Guyanese people their democratic rights.

Additionally, as recent as Tuesday (July 21, 2020) the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States, of which Guyana is a member, met, and they were all unanimous in their condemnation of the Coalition government, and all urged that they move swiftly to have a declaration be made using the results of the national recount.

In the face of all this international condemnation, the ongoing mantra of the APNU+AFC Coalition has been to claim sovereignty. They claim that Guyana is a sovereign nation and that no foreign power can dictate to them what action to take.

It is worth nothing that while sovereignty does afford a country certain basic rights for self-governance, there are also certain international principles that most be adhered to.

Guyana is a member of not only the OAS, but CARICOM and the United Nations, among other organisation – all of which give importance to the preservation of democracy.

The Charter of the Organization of American States, of which Guyana is a signatory to, states that: “The member states agree to join together in seeking a solution to urgent or critical problems that may arise whenever the economic development or stability of any Member State is seriously affected by conditions that cannot be remedied through the efforts of that state.” The Charter adds that member states stand “…convinced that representative democracy is an indispensable condition for the stability, peace and development of the region.” The Charter further states that: “Confident that the true significance of American solidarity and good neighborliness can only mean that the consolidation on this continent, within the framework of democratic institutions, of a system of individual liberty and social justice based on respect for the essential rights of man.”

The CARICOM Charter of Civil Society, in Article VI, states that: “The States shall ensure the existence of a fair and open democratic system through the holding of free elections at reasonable intervals, by secret ballot, underpinned by an electoral system in which all can have confidence and which will ensure the free expression of the will of the people in the choice of their representatives.”

In this context, the regional and international groups calling for a declaration based on the results of the national recount are in no way infringing on the sovereignty of Guyana, but are only seeking compliance to the principles Guyana has committed to as member states.

Peddling misconceived arguments about threats to sovereignty will not change the facts.

Furthermore, defying the regional and international communities and ignoring Guyana’s responsibility to uphold the principles it signed on to as member states of various organisations will only lead to our country being ostracized and isolated. We cannot survive as a nation if that happens. which is the offending party when it comes to our sovereignty.

Why? Simply because, sovereignty belongs to the Guyanese people.

Guyana’s constitution states that: “Sovereignty belongs to the people, who exercise it through their representatives and the democratic organs established under this Constitution.”

The electoral process is one of the democratic organs established by the Constitution. It is exactly this process that the APNU+AFC Coalition is seeking to corrupt and, in so doing, they would deny all Guyanese their sovereignty. They Coalition’s cries about sovereignty against the international community ring hollow as they are denying those same rights of their citizens.

It is a fact that a few members of the David Granger-led cabal are seeking to impose their will upon the entire electorate in defiance of every national, regional and internationally democratic principle.

It should come as no surprise, however, that Guyanese are subject to the APNU+AFC Coalition’s rantings about sovereignty at this time. The Coalition has taken a page directly out of the playbook of despots and dictators, who try to portray themselves as champions of the people against the world. This cynical strategy will not work.

The fact remains that the majority of Guyanese see the interventions by our regional and international partners as actions that are in support of our fight to maintain our democracy and not fall into a dictatorship.

One must never forget that it was this same APNU+AFC Coalition officials who had called upon these same ‘foreign’ entities to sanction the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) in 2014, when a constitutionally catered-for provision – prorogation – was enacted. In November 2014, it was Granger who had said: “Other countries in the Commonwealth have been sanctioned before for breach of democracy…I would say that the government would be well advised to avoid sanctions and comply with international norms.

“…sanctions will inevitably affect all Guyanese citizens. We will all suffer once there are sanctions. The question is who will suffer most and whether that period of suffering – which is bound to be short – is going to have the effect of bringing about a change in government’s behaviour. I do believe so….sanctions will have a short term effect and we all hope that the government will be wise enough to act so the sanctions will not prolong.”

Strange that Granger saw sanctions as a means of ensuring compliance with international norms in 2014, but in 2020 he and the cabal he leads are claiming that the regional and international community are trespassing on Guyana’s sovereignty.

The fact remains that while the APNU+AFC Coalition, continues to cry foul about ‘foreign powers’ trespassing on Guyana’s sovereignty, they are denying those same rights to their citizens

What is clear is that the Coalition stands alone, while all the opposition political parties, civil society, the regional community, the international community and most all of the organisations, of which Guyana is a member state, stands on the side of democracy. No amount of rhetoric from the Coalition’s camp will change this.

Guyanese can be encouraged that, while the struggle has been long, the end will come and the only end acceptable is one that sees a democratic and peaceful transition of power and sees the will of the people prevailing.