President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday announced a pardon for treason accused Phillip Bynoe, almost six years after he allegedly led a violent protest march on the Office of the President (OP) that resulted in the death of two people.
Bynoe, who has been on the run since the July 3, 2002 incident, had been writing to the President over the last year, expressing remorse while appealing for clemency. The former leader of the People’s Solidarity Move-ment was charged in absentia with the capital offence, while his co-accused Mark Benschop, who turned himself over to authorities, received a presidential pardon last year while awaiting a retrial.
A statement released by the OP last evening said that acting in accordance with the powers granted to him under Article 188 of the Consti-tution, President Jagdeo has “granted a free pardon to Mr Phillip Bynoe.” The statement added that Bynoe has been writing to the President since 2007, applying to him for a pardon. “In his appeals, Mr Bynoe informed the President about his remorse over the incident; the invasion of the [OP], and the destruction of public property. He also recognised that the event was an attack on a democratic institution of the state and not directed at the President.”
Under Article 188 1 (A) the President has the power to grant any person concerned in or convicted of any offence under the law of Guyana a pardon either free or subject to lawful condition.
Yesterday, President Jagdeo met Opposition leader Robert Corbin to provide a briefing on climate change. Corbin, who promised a fuller statement on the meeting, when asked whether the Bynoe pardon had been discussed, said he had not heard of the announcement and had no comment to make on it.
Last August, President Jagdeo had granted a pardon to Benschop, who had been in prison while awaiting a second trial after the first ended in a hung-jury. He had been imprisoned for five years. Although Bynoe has successfully eluded law enforcement authorities, there have been numerous reports over the years of sightings in Linden and other locations.
At the announcement of the Benschop pardon, Presi-dent Jagdeo was asked whether he would extend a pardon to Bynoe. He replied in the negative, saying he would have to face due process of the courts.
Benschop had also written to Jagdeo, who said he felt the former talk show host had learned his lesson. The President described the decision to free Benschop unconditionally as a personal one, admitting that he still believed that both men were involved in the invasion of the OP. He said: “He [Benschop] was involved. I think he was and I have always said that they [Bynoe and Benschop] led those people here and caused two of them to lose their lives.”
He added of Benschop: “It has nothing to do with the judicial process. I feel he was guilty of misleading those people and bringing them here. I am exercising the presidential pardon and not a judicial pardon. The judiciary has the right to say he is guilty or not guilty but personally, I feel that he had a significant role to play.”
According to the particulars of the treason charge, contrary to Section 318 (a) of the Criminal Law Offences Act (CLOA), Bynoe between June 1 and July 3, 2003, being a citizen of Guyana and owing allegiance to the state of Guyana, formed an intention to overthrow the lawfully elected Government of Guyana by force. During the said period, in furtherance of the aforesaid intention, he allegedly: (A) Conspired together with persons to forcibly and unlawfully enter into the compound and premises of the OP; (B) Was present at and encouraged others by words and conduct, to unlawfully overtake and storm the OP compound and premises.
That’s very nice of you Mr. President, it goes to show what a compassionate person you are that would want to forgive someone who wanted to use death and mayhem for their and their masters own political agrandisement. You will go down in history as one of Guyana’s greatest leader regardless of what Freddie says about you. We all need to look upon this with pride and hope. Thank you Mr. President for your outstanding example and great leadership shown to all of its blessed citizen.
when judgement comes many of us will know a lot!!
Do not mistake action for progress. The president seems to keep these trump cards to continually mask the gross ineptitude of the current administration.
If the administration really wanted to catch Bynoe, they would have.
Just like Benschop, who unfortunately did alot of jail time for NOTHING, Bynoe was never charged or convicted with any offense. How can you pardon someone for doing nothing. I WAS THERE ON THAT DAY. Benschop was calling people AWAY from the gates to OP, so was Bynoe, Bynoe was however somewhat more ahead in the crowd.
This group of people you call a government has so many criminal minds it’s not amazing anymore. Who burnt canefields under the PNC when sugar prices were at their highest. Who bombed the MV Son Chapman??? You guys seem to forget the evil nature of the beast you’re trying to pet here now.
That is nice to pardon someone who did not go to jail is nice while someone else spent five years that is why the PPP makes fools of people like you ….How could you pardon someone who never went to jail ???? THIS GOVERNMENT REALLY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE FOOLED…
Can you define ‘GREATNESS’ Tzar?
BEFORE YOU GUYS SAY ANY THING, TRY DOING THAT ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN. YOU ARE FOOLS TO DEFEND HIM.
Watch your back Phillip. They are devious, as I’m sure you know.
Benschop must feel wronged now for real cause he had to serve 5 years and Bynoe got none.So unfair to the uneducated people that were stupid enough to follow these two .
i like that dancehall singer Movado songs…especially on the pitchpoint riddim………please download it and listen to it carefully.
Fulano…it is beyond my imagination to thing of your mentality…What nonsense is this, god in heaven knows…Bynoe was no angel, he commited an act that hardly anyone gets away with…now he is pardoned by the President from a life sentence and this is your statement………..
Who is more devious than a man whose attempt, no doubt, was to overthrow a democratically-elected government. What is the balderdash about “watch your back?”
I think the President should have insisted in having Bynoe captured and tried- and have him spend five years in jail.
This is what such characters deserve.
You want to overthrow the government, then do so through the ballot- not by bullhorn and Benschop.
Innocent peope, lost their lives at the OP when these so-called freedom fighters stormed the OP. What freedon are they fighting for?
I am sure the President and his party will lose valuable support from their electorate because of this pardon of Bynoe.
Bynoe is no saint. Those who know, know.
Jagdeo has made a big blunder by pardoning such a character.
Smart move. Who said our Prezzzie wasn’ smart? Better to have PB in the clear and near rather than hiding and on the run. A relief however you look at it.
one hell of a lucky dude, it wont happen in america if you are not caught.
Ever heard of Roman Polanski?.
GOD is a forgiven GOD .Jagdeo is a forgiven president.Jagdeo is a great president.
I hope you are not comparing him to God, because that would be blaspheme.
Tell me that you mean “FORGIVING”
On what grounds did you use to come to such a conclusion?
Safety and Security of Citizens?
Stable and growing economy?
education?
health-care?
Infrastructure building?
Law enforcement?
Hope for the youth?
I mean, come on.. call a dog a dog and a cat a cat…
Stewps!!!
Best reply I’ve seen
Quite shocking that a fugitive from justice is pardoned. Essentially this was him negotiating a deal while on the lam.
The President cannot pardon Bynoe for a crime that he was never arrested, charged and convicted on. In like manner, the President did not pardon, but freed Mark Benschop, for a crime for which he was arrested and charged, but never convicted.
The President simply used his Executive authority to override the legal sytem and ended its pursuit of justice against a man.
If the President freed Benschop on the same charges the state brought against Bynoe, then the President ought to have instructed the state to withdraw charges against Bynoe.
People are lauding Jagdeo but people need to recognize they are making Jagdeo into a dictator who can supercede the law at will. Think you blind, dumb and deaf minions!
Maybe it is a matter of time before he ‘pardons’ the PNC and then enters into shared governance with them! Then all who suffered and died at the hands of criminals with supposed links to the PNC would have suffered and died in vain! NO JUSTICE WAS SERVED!
Andy what a pity I cannot increase the size of the font to scream, “THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH” Even though it’s impossible to educate a (door)post &
The constitution never stipulates that pardon should be granted on conviction…There is a section ( Article 188) that the President used, that provided the freedom that Mark and Bynoe now enjoys..I will do some research and give you the powers of the president under article 188 of the constitution of guyana…So slow down Andy.
Excellent Presidential decision! Kudos
Their aim was to kill, when they led that violent protest march on the office of the President. This charge in some countries could of been executed by a firing squad/beheaded/hanged, but no, pardoned by a true Democratic president, the most are proud of you.
Nice try but some people skull to thick to get this type of information through.
If they had wanted to kill they would have armed themselves with guns.
and in which country that would have been?
closest allies of venezuela. china is comonist not democratic iran something of the contrery. non of the two have respect for human rights( free speach of disagreeal or protest)we are under develop not un cevelize.they were out of conduct with out a douth. by the way where were you when that event had taken place