… says opposition yet to reconstitute parliamentary oversight committee on security
By Michael younge
Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said the power to rescind appointments or effect the removal of Cabinet ministers lies “exclusively and solely” with the head of state, President Donald Ramotar. He strongly condemned the move by the opposition to link Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee’s stewardship of the subject ministry to the fatal shooting of two young men by police officers.
Nandlall’s comments came on the heels of ongoing opposition protests. Today, (Thursday) the protests are scheduled to intensify and take place in several parts of the city, as the opposition tries to force government to rethink the appointment of its home affairs minister.
Unreasonable calls
“Appointment and removal of ministers are exclusively matters for the president,” Nandlall stressed, while speaking with this newspaper Wednesday evening, adding that the head of state’s position on the opposition’s continued call to fire Rohee has not changed.
The legal affairs minister refused to offer any further comment on the calls for Rohee’s removal, but argued that the “A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU/ AFC) coalition” has apparently bestowed upon itself the powers of a judge and jury. He contended that the calls were largely political and unreasonable, as the minister’s functions and roles do not allow him any direct say in the administration and daily operations of the police force.
“The home affairs minister is not responsible, and is statutorily prohibited from having anything to do with the day-to-day running and operations of the Guyana Police Force,” Nandlall noted. “Does the opposition want to convey the impression that Rohee ordered the shooting or gave instructions for the ranks to behave in the manner that they did in both incidents?”
Nandlall said the opposition is merely using these recent shootings as a “red herring” to achieve its wider aim of removing Rohee from office, since it failed to do so through the National Assembly. “It’s a political agenda to remove a minister from the government. It is an agenda driven purely by political reasons,” he declared.
The AG explained that the APNU/ AFC did not appear genuinely concerned about the shooting deaths, as the focus was on calling for the removal of the minister rather than reforming the police force.
Unwarranted shootings
Meanwhile, sources close to Cabinet informed Guyana Times International that the minister was not even present in the country when the police unintentionally shot and killed 21-year-old Dameon Belgrave near the White Castle Fish Shop on Hadfield Street, Georgetown last Friday.
President Ramotar had earlier in the year expressed concern over the spate of police shootings which he said signalled a lack of professionalism and a need for reform.
The president’s position on these issues remains resolute and he, like all other Guyanese, is awaiting the institution of justice against those who are responsible, the AG noted.
“I, too, am concerned about the manner in which the police discharge their responsibilities and I conveyed that concern to the hierarchy of the police in January of this year. Therefore, I endorse the call for a review of the way in which the police discharge their functions. I held that view as a private citizen and that view has not changed as a minister,” said Nandlall.
He made it clear that the administration would not condone any unnecessary use of force on citizens and condemned the recent spate of police shootings, which he described as largely unwarranted.
Opposition must accept responsibility for the lack of reforms
“I sat on the Disciplined Forces Commission established by Parliament a few years ago, and that commission reviewed the functions and functioning of the Guyana Police Force and made several recommendations for changes.
That report is still being examined by a select committee in the Parliament several years after,” Nandlall pointed out.
The committee comprised both members of the People’s National Congress and AFC members. Additionally, a committee to review matters of national security and public safety was established in the Ninth Parliament, and that committee also comprised PNC and AFC members.
“Those opposition politicians should tell the nation what they have done in those committees to improve the workings of the police force. In this 10th Parliament, that committee has not yet been appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Parliament,” he asserted.
The Appointments Committee is chaired by APNU’s George Norton.
“The APNU should explain why that Appointments Committee has not yet constituted this committee, so when one looks at the situation holistically, the opposition must accept responsibility for the lack of reforms in the police force.” “It is purely for political reasons that they are not admitting their dereliction in this regard,” Nandlall declared.
The AG believes that the opposition political parties’ advocacy for justice following the shootings hide an ingenious, ulterior motive. He said there may be more to the opposition’s demonstrations and public outcries, which are aimed at holding government to ransom if Rohee is not fired.
He was quick to point out that the move by the opposition to lobby for Rohee’s removal comes ahead of the outcome of the Commission of Inquiry, which was set up to investigate the Linden unrest, saying this could undermine the outcome of the probe.
Nandlall noted that one of the terms of reference of the commission is to investigate if Rohee played any role in the Linden incident.
“One is forced to speculate whether or not, the opposition may be displeased with the type of evidence which is unfolding before the commission and, therefore, it is creating the basis to undermine the actual findings of the commission,” the AG added.
