…Opposition calls on Police, ERC to take action
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has written the Commissioner of Police and the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) over comments made by Finance Minister Winston Jordan and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, in seeming defiance of a Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling.
Writing the letters was Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, who referenced media reports quoting the two officials while on a Government- sponsored outreach in Bartica. She referenced Jordan’s calling for citizens to be ready for protest for House-to-House registration. She also made reference to Jordan saying “war break” as he called for street protests.
Another reference was made to Jordan saying that regardless of the CCJ ruling, House-to-House Registration must be carried out. Meanwhile, she referenced quotes attributed to Nagamootoo in which he warned of “trouble” if House-to-House registration was not completed.
In her letter to Police Commissioner Leslie James, she reminded him of his calls on March 21 for Guyanese to remain calm and keep the peace. She also reminded him that he had warned at the time that persons breaching the law would be held accountable. According to Teixeira, these statements are inciting and a threat to public order and safety.
“Your statement of March 21, 2019 is more relevant now than then, as we have now the rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the highest court, and we are all, therefore, expected to abide by the CCJ rulings that the No-Confidence Motion is valid and elections must be held within the shortest time,” Teixeira wrote.
“I, therefore, call on you as Commissioner and the custodian of public safety and order to carry out your mandate vigorously and to publicly defend, preserve, and protect the rule of law and the Guyana Constitution in our nation.”
ERC
Teixeira expressed similar concerns in her letter to ERC Chairman, the Reverend John Smith. In this letter, she called on Smith to intercede with the President and his Ministers, in keeping with the Commission’s constitutional mandate to promote peace and harmony.
“Reports in the media emanating from the President and Ministers are cause for concern. These statements in response to the rulings of the highest court of Guyana, the Caribbean Court of Justice, have been unsettling and disturbing. These statements and declarations should no doubt also be cause for profound concern by Ethnic Relations Commission and the entire citizenry.
“These statements are inciting and a threat to public order and safety, and are in contempt of the Caribbean Court of Justice rulings of June 18, 2019. I, therefore, call on the ERC to carry out its constitutional mandate vigorously to promote peace and harmony and to stand publicly in defence of the rule of law and the Constitution. I urge you to register with the President and his Ministers that the CCJ ruling must be complied with in spirit and intent,” Teixeira also wrote.
On Tuesday, the CCJ handed down its ruling that Government was defeated in the No-Confidence Motion case. The court also ruled that GECOM Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson, was unconstitutionally appointed.
