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.
There should have been due process of the courts here rather than a pardon, secondly, he’s a FUGITIVE!!!! there should be a separate charge for that. Thirdly, were these charges politically motivated?… well ….the evidence speaks for its self on that one….
Andy you could not put it over any better when you said Benchop was thrown into Jail for five years and was set free. While Mr Bynoe was on the run for Six years.
Mark Benchop has a scar for life – his child who did not see his father for five years – yet one day at school the children will say to this child your father was in jail not knowing the truth. And many of you see this President Jagdeo as a hero? You are now making this President some thing he’s not. President Jagdeo as Commander in Chief using his office as Judge, Jury and hanger.
President Jagdeo cannot put his foot in Burnham shoe. The vision that Burnham had for that country President Jagdeo cannot began to and will never be able to do so. Walk around the country and see how many are suffering. How many are jobless, the daily crime and this is what Benchop was merely pointing out.
Don’t forget CN Sharma did just that what happened he was close down for 6 months. What happened with Ronald Waddell? What happened to Moseley? Jackass ears long but he don’t hear his own story. Is like monkey knows which limb to jump on.
I agree with your remarks about Jagdeo,
I disagree with your remarks about Forbes.
I believe none of them did any good,
Waste of a pardon. From the bloggers here, it seemed as though a leaderless rabble tried to storm the OP. Bynoe and Benschop were angels trying to protect the OP. What a load of c…..p
We can go on and on on this issue and stress ourelves without any solution.
Anyway – as a law abiding citizen – I do not have to be politically involved to know /to have that respect for the highest office of a/the country – in this case Office of the President (not the person who is elected as president).
It’s my hope that ordinary people – who I would NOT refer to as ‘uneducated and stupid’ as one of us has – will wake up to their senses.
God Blessings to all
Is an “Ice-Berg” ahead! This is what this article seems to ask! And, as the old saying goes – “There may be more to the mortar than to the pistle”??? An house divided cannot stand!!!
Re: “Russian warships hold exercises with Chavez’s navy”
http://my.att.net/s/editorial.dll?pnum=1&bfromind=7405&eeid=6244909&_sitecat=1505&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=-2&ck=&ch=ne&rg=blsadstrgt
The question is – will Philip now come out of hiding? how did the government communicate with him when they did not know his wheareabouts? There are lots of unanswered questions. Nevertheless, best of luck to him!!
THOSE WHO FORGET THEIR PAST ARE CONDENMED TO REPEAT IT. Enjoy the freedom Mr. Bynoe, and stay out of politics now, you are an old man, go mind your grand children: STAY OUT OF POLITICS PERIOD. And to all those bloggers out there who would think otherwise, and make up their own stories, listen to the words of Mr. Bynoe and Mr. Benschop themselves, tells a lot about what they think happened I would say. After all, they were the “ignoble” men that were directly involved with this dishonorable part of our country’s history: were not they? But some people are so pncitish and brainwashed that they would deny even if Bynoe and Benschop climbed onto their beds and said it to them in their own ear.
Well said Chief….Explain to the bloggers what is the truth…bynoe and beschop knows all…
I SALUTE YOU MR. PRESIDENT FOR YOUR ACT OF DECENCY..MANY WOULD HAVE BEEN TO BIG OR TOO PROUD TO DO SO…..THAT IS LEADERSHIP………
you should also ask him to show leadership and lead the country out of it’s economic crisis and it’s people out of poverty
Why is it a big issue whether the man was pardoned, forgiven or whatever else? I’m sure he’s quiet happy with these development. I’m not sure if he should’ve been charged with treason since I really don’t think they went to the OP to overthrow the govt, but I do think both Benschop and Bynoe should be held responsible for leading two persons to their death.
Phillip Bynoe beware of those bearing Greek gifts.