Dear Editor:
Mr. Granger finally on September 26 called the elections for March 2, 2020. So what was the statement on the previous evening [when he announced that date but introduced a caveat that Parliament has to give its approval for an extension of the period that had been set for the holding of the elections]? A charade? Or a deliberate play with the minds of the people?
In his address to the nation, Mr. Granger told citizens that “since the passage of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly on 21st December 2018, he has respected the decisions of the Courts and upheld the Constitution.”
Was Mr. Granger playing some sort of psychological operations on the minds of the listening public? Because that statement is an absolute stranger to the truth. Any thinking Guyanese can tell you that since Sept 18, 2019, Mr. Granger has observed the Constitution in the breach.
That speech on the night of September 25, 2019, was nothing else but – absolute balderdash. In the first place, Mr. Granger was alerted to the constitutional course of action by the CCJ since June 18, 2019, and this slippage into no-man’s land after September 18, 2019 is all on him and he cannot tag that to any other organization; not even GECOM. What we saw was a determined attempt on the part of the regime to vary the narrative and operate as if the CCJ’s decision had no bearing on their future actions. Remember they held several kangaroo cabinet meetings after the courts deemed them as resigned as prescribed in the Constitution?
So this belated attempt to hold court in a final “hurrah” in order for him to practice his brand of aristocracy with panache and fanfare should not be tolerated by any lovers of democracy. He is an office holder operating in an illegal period, plain and simple. He is also one who continues to use techniques that are in clear violation of the spirit and intent of the Constitution. In this period, there are only two roles left for Mr. Granger – dissolve the Parliament and call the elections.
So it is settled, let us press on. Let the nation be glad and have a splendid Christmas season and let the real campaign begin on Monday, January 6, 2019. For me, I am focused on Guyana and although the journey was a difficult one, progress has been made.
I want to put on record my deep appreciation for the diplomatic community especially the USA, UK, and EU. I also want to put on record my elevated respect for civil society especially the Private Sector Commission under the leadership of Gerry Gouveia. I want to congratulate the PPP/C on their diligence and perseverance. I am also grateful to Mr. Granger for coming to his senses quite belatedly to do his duty and call the elections date. But most importantly, I am grateful to the Guyanese people for their patience and tolerance. There shall be winners and losers in the next elections, but we must ensure that democracy does not ever lose again.
In that light, I am calling on all eligible Guyanese to make it their personal duty to check the Voter’s List very early in October 2019 and ensure they are registered. The time is now to fix this once and for all.
There is still lots of work to do to emerge from this quagmire, but we have reached a space where we can pause until October 1, 2019, when GECOM open its doors and commences the Claims and Objections process. Onward to the Claims and Objections period and there must be no turning back.
Sasenarine Singh via email |
Dear Editor:
I read with disappointment, a recent article, “Democratic right to protest denied in Region 1 as Police bar citizens from Granger’s ‘Cabinet’ campaigning,” published in the Guyana Times, Saturday, September 21st, 2019 edition. I cannot help but proclaim my utter disagreement with the Government of the Day and the Guyana Police Force, for which I always have maximum respect, but it is wrong for them to deny people the right to protest. The Government cannot interfere with the rights of its citizens to picket just because it disagrees with the picketer’s views. They cannot make the conclusive decision that these views might be of a nuisance to them. Instead, they must take reasonable steps to enable citizens to protest and to protect participants in peaceful demonstrations from disruption by others. In simpler terminology, they have the right to prevent violence, they have the right to arrest people if they break the law, but they have no right to prevent these kinds of expression which are enshrined in democratic values.
Government of Guyana, how shameful it is that even at this time, after being so long in power, that you are unable to preserve the rights of the people of this magnificent country? How dare our Law enforcement officers violate this right through means intended to thwart free public expression? Political leaders, President of the State, I earnestly remind you that you have got to remember that people have a right to peaceful protest; otherwise it means that democracy is being hijacked by the powers. It is as if the Government and the Guyana Police Force believe that they have a veto power over all speech. At the end of the day, dear Government, we are Citizens! Not subjects! We are employers of Government, Opposition and Political Institutions, and we the people can hire and fire at will. (And for stating this, a group I call the Shadow Cabinet of the current Government tried to destroy me over the last few years and my business, but respectfully, I will never relent. Success is not dependent on the power of a few individuals but on the blessings of God Almighty and the power of birth.)
I can reflect very well in the days of the PPP/C being in power, His Excellency David Arthur Granger himself was leading picketing exercises against the Minister of Home Affairs, and several other places as well. No one ever tried to stop them from exercising their democratic right to picket. And I stood there admiring democracy in action. I politely raised my hand to them.
If I may remind you, the right to protest is vital for a democracy. And when this democratic right of ours is suppressed, it becomes disadvantageous, thus creating unfavourable situations. The intention is not to create chaos, but to express the plight of the people to the state, and that the issues of the citizens of this great country are heard by the Government.
Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan via email
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Dear Editor:
One ought to commend the U.S, U.K and EU diplomats in taking a firm stand in ensuring that the doctrine of democracy prevails in Guyana. Look what has happened since their declaration that the caretaker APNU+AFC regime has breached the constitution. Many other private and public institutions have come forward, reflecting a domino effect.
One wonders, rightly so, what is going on with Canada. Why is it that we have not heard anything from High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee? Has Canada abandoned Guyana at a time when needed more than ever?
Silence from the Canadian High Commission can only be interpreted as not getting involved when the Guyanese situation requires the opposite. Say something, please.
Arguably, the large Guyanese population in Canada would like to know your position in Guyana especially when your foreign counterparts have been forthright and when Guyanese arrived to your country primarily because of dictatorship in the 1970s and 1980s. Does Canada want another wave of Guyanese migrants?
Lomarsh Roopnarine via email |