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FM
Former Member

Even though some politicians are arguing that the President violated the Constitution in unilaterally appointing James Patterson, I am prepared to accept the opposite argument that the President did not violate the Constitution.

However, between 2011 and 2015 when APNU+AFC were in the opposition they made strident calls for constitutional reform. That is, they claimed that the Constitution was flawed, that same Constitution that Granger is now sheltering under. He has not violated a flawed constitution.

During the 2015 general election campaign APNU made a big splash about its intention to run a government of national unity. That was music to my ears and influenced me to support the Coalition.

When APNU+AFC won the election the President set up the first ever Ministry of Social Cohesion in Guyana's history. I applauded, never mind he named the highly partisan Amna Ally instead of an impartial technocrat as the subject minister.

Now, in the spirit of national unity and social cohesion, operating in a volatile and acrimonious political and social environment, why did Granger depart from the confidence-building and workable Carter Formula and base his selection of Patterson on his subjective interpretation of that flawed Constitution that APNU+AFC wanted to reform? 

Since last Thursday night Guyana is more divided and bitter than ever. The news media and social media have indicated such. 

Not to forget, APNU coalition partner AFC's endorsement of Granger's controversial action has sounded the "death knell" of the AFC as the Stabroek News Editorial noted. AFC is now stinking crab shell.

Is Granger's game worth the candle he burned? I think not. His PNCR will end up in disgrace like the PNC without the R.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Gilbakka posted:

. He has not violated a flawed constitution.

 

Exactly that. I suggest that Guyanese protest to force the involvement of civic society in crafting a new constitution and to insist that this be in force before the next elections due before the end of 2020.

Instead Guyanese will be used by the evil wench called Jagdeo!  He boasted how much he loved this same constitution. He merely wishes to enjoys its benefits once again. In his years in office he did NOTHING to change it.  He didn't because he LOVES it!

FM
caribny posted:
Gilbakka posted:

. He has not violated a flawed constitution.

 

Exactly that. I suggest that Guyanese protest to force the involvement of civic society in crafting a new constitution and to insist that this be in force before the next elections due before the end of 2020.

Instead Guyanese will be used by the evil wench called Jagdeo!  He boasted how much he loved this same constitution. He merely wishes to enjoys its benefits once again. In his years in office he did NOTHING to change it.  He didn't because he LOVES it!

Thats true...but then again...two wrongs do not make a right. The coalition can rise above the fray and embark on constitutional reform...if they do...they will be seen as keeping one of their election promises

V
VishMahabir posted:
. The coalition can rise above the fray and embark on constitutional reform...

Well the coalition didn't and neither will the PPP. What then?

This constitution was drafted by Burnham to centralize all power around the president. When the PPP was in power they loved it. Now they aren't they argue against it, screaming that Granger didn't have to abide by it.

This will only change when ordinary Guyanese insist that it does.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Opposition to Patterson's appointment is growing. This afternoon the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce released a statement on what it described as Granger's "senseless action". 

In that statement the CCCC said the AFC should take a major part of the blame, adding: "“They should be ashamed of themselves as they were the ones who helped to create this crisis in the first place by their cowardly attitude in not demanding their partner abide with a practice which served the people for 25 years. They have also forgotten that many of them (especially Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo),fought for decades for free and fair elections including (on) this very matter, which they are now loosely and casually compromising themselves to support. What a shame!"

FM
Gilbakka posted:

Opposition to Patterson's appointment is growing. This afternoon the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce released a statement on what it described as Granger's "senseless action". 

In that statement the CCCC said the AFC should take a major part of the blame, adding: "“They should be ashamed of themselves as they were the ones who helped to create this crisis in the first place by their cowardly attitude in not demanding their partner abide with a practice which served the people for 25 years. They have also forgotten that many of them (especially Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo),fought for decades for free and fair elections including (on) this very matter, which they are now loosely and casually compromising themselves to support. What a shame!"

This is a PPP stronghold. No surprise that they are following Jagdeo blindly.

Mars
Mars posted:
Gilbakka posted:

Opposition to Patterson's appointment is growing. This afternoon the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce released a statement on what it described as Granger's "senseless action". 

In that statement the CCCC said the AFC should take a major part of the blame, adding: "“They should be ashamed of themselves as they were the ones who helped to create this crisis in the first place by their cowardly attitude in not demanding their partner abide with a practice which served the people for 25 years. They have also forgotten that many of them (especially Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo),fought for decades for free and fair elections including (on) this very matter, which they are now loosely and casually compromising themselves to support. What a shame!"

This is a PPP stronghold. No surprise that they are following Jagdeo blindly.

In 2011 election the AFC had grabbed a big chunk of Corentyne votes away from the PPP. Today it seems like the PPP has reclaimed its traditional support. This is part of the AFC demise.

FM
Drugb posted:

As long as blacks are not up in arms, then jackass Granger will get away with appointing this old rigger.  So far we only see IndoG shouting and frafing. 

Bai, the racial divide has widened further since Thursday night. National unity is history. Social cohesion is now coo-coo. Unintended consequences or collateral damage by Granger's action? Your guess is as good as mine.

FM
Gilbakka posted:
 

Today it seems like the PPP has reclaimed its traditional support.

Means nothing now. Things are back to the old PNC style wickedness. Burnham didn't care who opposed him. He even used to rant at Reagan and remember how he used to mock Eugenia Charles? But there was that one thing that Burnham couldn't bully. That thing called death which allotted him just a normal 5 years Parliament instead of the President for life one he tried to force on Guyana. Granger seems to be longing for how things went for Burnham.

FM
Gilbakka posted:
 

In 2011 election the AFC had grabbed a big chunk of Corentyne votes away from the PPP.

And they lost it in 2015. I suggest that you do a comparison of region 6 votes for 2011 and 2015.  The PPP support soared whereas the coalition's remained flat. With 30% of the population identified as black or mixed and with that group's turnout soaring elsewhere in Guyana I will suggest to you that the PPP scared most of the Indo AFC region 6 supporters back home when they teamed up with the PNC.

This is why Ramjattan and Moses have no juice, because they didn't bring in votes.

FM
yuji22 posted:
Drugb posted:

As long as blacks are not up in arms, then jackass Granger will get away with appointing this old rigger.  So far we only see IndoG shouting and frafing. 

The only long time GNI black member who has openly criticize Granger is D2, who could have guessed ? The rest is silently backing Granger.

D2 is Indian. Accept that fact!

FM

The latest organization to denounce Granger's appointment of Patterson is the Berbice Bar Association. Yesterday the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce joined the chorus. Others include the Guyana Bar Association, FITUG the trade union umbrella, Private Sector Commission, Guyana Human Rights Association, and Women Lawyers' Association. Prominent individuals include WPA functionary Tacuma Ogunseye, former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran, Accountant-Lawyer Christopher Ram, and trade union leader Lincoln Lewis. One suspected major fallout is Joe Singh's resignation from his MOTP advisory post. 

FM

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