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August 26 2019

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Dear Editor,

Reference is being made to yesterday’s Sunday Stabroek article `CCJ has failed Guyana, it’s now up to GECOM Chair – Ramkarran.’ I beg to strongly differ with the opinion of Ralph Ramkarran SC that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has failed Guyana in its ruling of 12th July 2019. The CCJ has not failed Guyana. Our politicians and some opinion shapers and institutions have failed and continue to fail Guyana by not seeking to understand the Constitution of Guyana and in applying their skewed interpretation to the CCJ ruling.

Shame and disgrace on Ramkarran that he can seek to bring the CCJ into disrepute, the highest decision-making forum for judicial settlement, put together by CARICOM, comprising of the best judicial minds in the Region. Now he seeks to put CARICOM to disgrace. How much longer are the people of Guyana going to allow this to happen and if we don’t wake up to see what is happening in this country. I hope the international community and CARICOM are taking note.  There is an ongoing effort to disrupt social order, law and order in Guyana.

What is becoming evidently clear is the presence of political mischief, the absence of understanding of the Constitution, and the willful distortion of it. Ralph Ramkarran was Chairman of the 1999 Constitution Reform Commission which grew out of agreement between President Janet Jagan and Leader of the Opposition Desmond Hoyte. Society was expecting of him to be a good steward of this achievement not only in aiding to bring understanding but also to realise legislation in the National Assembly to give meaning to the articles within the constitution. The absence of these is contributing to the conundrum we face today.

Even more disturbing is the stubbornness to hold fast to positions not ensconced in the Constitution or the court’s ruling. Our politicians and affected opinion shapers have to acknowledge, silently or publicly, they have erred and move to now do what’s right by the constitution and ruling. Refusing to budge from hardline positions will not realise the advancement of this nation’s interest.   Seeking to impugn the reputation of the CCJ when persons have first failed to study and understand the ruling does not say much of those engaging in such conduct.

The CCJ did its job consistent with the Constitution. The failure to adhere to its ruling has brought to the fore absence of political will, disregard for the instrument and unpreparedness to comply with same, tendencies that are hurting. The ruling has entrusted a tripartite working relationship on the actors- the President, the National Assembly, and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). This nation cannot proceed in a lawful and orderly manner when one, two or all the actors refuse to uphold their constitutional and judicial responsibilities.

It is not lost on me, and I am sure others, the absence of national outcry to hold the Leader of the Opposition equally accountable to the CCJ’s ruling. The National Assembly cannot achieve the two-thirds vote needed to satisfy the “or such longer period” to hold the election consistent with Article 106(7). Guyana needs the vote of both sides of the House and where Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo has failed to communicate a change of mind and return to the National Assembly to grant that vote nothing will be done at this level of the ruling.

It may be convenient or of political advantage to demand of the President and GECOM to comply with the ruling but to ignore the equal responsibility of the National Assembly which the Opposition comprises does not help. We have an interim Government, an interim Opposition and the substantive constitutionally independent GECOM. To ask of GECOM to do what is not within its scope of constitutional responsibility is again either a demonstration of disregard for the constitution or the court’s ruling.

GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh SC has been discharging the work of the Commission. She must be allowed to lead that commission free of bullyism or outside interference. Her selection and appointment have been arrived at through a consensus process which is consistent with the CCJ’s ruling. Calls must be made to the interim Government and the interim Opposition for a meeting of minds in order that together they  uphold their constitutional and judicial responsibilities.

This nation is hurting today for want of constitutional education, progressive political direction and integrity from those who society have been conditioned to look up to and rely on.  

Yours faithfully,

Lincoln Lewis

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Lewis is a fool. No one is under any obligation to continue aiding the incompetent PNC in their gross waste of time. The PNC is hell bent in squatting illegally in office and Lewis is seeking to assist them in doing so. His hypocrisy reeks of gross dishonesty. 

FM

Lewis is nothing but a PNC THUG and PRICK!! They  see only dark colors, if you know what I mean. This Dog would have had a different take had it been the PPP disrespecting the Constitution and Rule of Law!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nehru

David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis: 2 peas in the same pod





Dear Editor,
Dr Chia Thye Poh, a former political prisoner from Singapore, is credited with the following quotation: “A hypocrite is more dangerous than a dishonest man. A dishonest man deceives and cheats, and a hypocrite betrays and swindles.”
While there are many who fit this description, two immediately come to mind: David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis.
At a time when Government’s public policy is to promote social cohesion, these so-called African Rights Activists give the impression of fighting for Guyanese of African descent, when collectively they have done very little to improve the wellbeing of ordinary Afro-Guyanese. Instead, they are more interested in self-gratification, using ‘black’ people to benefit themselves.
Now, to secure their own interest, they will do and say anything to prolong the life of this caretaker Government, which is known for pilfering the resources of our country and employing frivolous legal challenges to delay the holding of elections.
It is a pathetic David Hinds who, in an effort to showcase his party’s relevance, now dances to the African drums of the PNC/APNU as he readily admits to planning a series of community meetings in Buxton and other PNC strongholds to win back disaffected Coalition voters.
Of course the five members of the WPA must all be aware that they are being used by the PNC/APNU to campaign in areas where the APNU is no longer welcome or have support. I have no doubt that David Hinds is being compensated or facilitated with taxpayers’ money for his services. Walter Rodney must be turning over in his grave by this betrayal.
Lincoln Lewis, on the other hand, cunningly uses his position as a popular trade unionist to try to influence other disaffected Coalition voters, giving them the impression that it is the Opposition Leader who is being unreasonable by demanding that the President and the Attorney General respect our Constitution.
In his usual diatribe in Kaieteur News (August 25, 2019), Lewis accused the PPP/C of neglecting to discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
“The refusal of the Leader of the Opposition to return to parliament is an abrogation of constitutional responsibility, highlighting a shortcoming in his leadership as the nation’s second highest political office holder. His promises on behalf of the PPP, when he has the constitutional authority to work and ensure these are realised, must see us holding him to account. The PPP’s Members of Parliament (MPs), together with the Coalition’s MPs, must return to the National Assembly and legislate the promises now”, Lewis contends.
Lewis’s arguments are totally fallacious. First of all, it is the Government that summons a sitting of Parliament, the Opposition does not have the power to do so.
Secondly, when Parliament was illegally called into session on May 23, five months after the successful passage of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM), Government did not invite the Opposition to extend its life by seeking a two-thirds majority, but instead approved a $7.9 billion supplementary appropriation, which included $3.5 billion in funding for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), $2 billion in funding for the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, and $1.5 billion for the Ministry of Communities; as well as several hundreds of millions in funding for the Ministries of Finance, Social Cohesion, Social Protection and National Security.
In short, Government used Parliament for an assault on the Treasury, to draw down additional funds to support their shameless political campaign, disguised as “ministerial outreach”.
The truth is: Lincoln Lewis is nothing more than a stooge for the PNC/APNU; employed to do their dirty work; trying to divert the blame from David Granger, the man who continues to disrespect and ignore our Constitution, by blaming it all on the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.
Lewis is worse than an apologist; who now deflects Granger’s constitutional responsibility as the only person under the constitution with the power to resign Cabinet, dissolve Parliament, and name a date for election; none of which he has done.
The CCJ ruled that Charrandas Persaud exercised his constitutional rights and freedom of conscience when he voted in favour of the NCM, but the authoritarians and dictators see that as treacherous.
Throughout the world, whenever an NCM is passed successfully, it means that someone from the other side voted for it. In no part of the world is that person described as treacherous and a traitor, except in Guyana.
Unlike the Attorney General, who often does not realise how idiotic he sounds, Lincoln Lewis usually commands the respect of his peers. But no matter which way he twists and turns the facts, Lewis cannot refashion the Constitution to suit his purpose — which is to ignore Granger’s violations. His efforts to denigrate the Leader of the Opposition speak volumes of his allegiance and the way he has always seen things: through his ethnic eyes!

Harry Gill
PPP/C Member of Parliament














 

FM

Is it up to the new GECOM chairwoman to set the elections date? I need to plan my yearly wheelchair trip. Don't want to be there when the slopsters and their pnc drones are rioting.

FM

If the PPP wins the election, they should abandon the CCJ and CARICOM. Guyana is not selling 10-days old plantain chips anymore. Guyana has hile. F'k these two organizations.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
ksazma posted:

The problem rests completely on Granger and his wicked followers.

Granger is saying that he is more powerful than any court that has jurisdiction over Guyana. He is the supreme Ayatollah.

FM
skeldon_man posted:
ksazma posted:

The problem rests completely on Granger and his wicked followers.

Granger is saying that he is more powerful than any court that has jurisdiction over Guyana. He is the supreme Ayatollah.

He idol used to behave the same way and it turned out he didn’t even stay alive to enjoy a full parliament much less president for life.

FM
ksazma posted:
skeldon_man posted:
ksazma posted:

The problem rests completely on Granger and his wicked followers.

Granger is saying that he is more powerful than any court that has jurisdiction over Guyana. He is the supreme Ayatollah.

He idol used to behave the same way and it turned out he didn’t even stay alive to enjoy a full parliament much less president for life.

Maybe Baseman needs to feed the man more radioactive saltfish and bake.

FM

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