A contradictory statement from the Council of Ministers

Dear Editor,

Perhaps reeling under the intense glare of the brightening international spotlight, Guyana’s Foreign Minister, Ms Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, tried to make good on her faux pas about the Commonwealth Secretary General denying the British High Commissioner’s remarks that the organization is considering sanctions against Guyana, by now assuring the Caricom Council of Ministers that general elections in Guyana are “imminent” – whatever that means to her and the PPP regime.

In response to the Guyana’s Foreign Minister, ‘Announcement of polls “imminent” –Rodrigues-Birkett tells Caricom council,’ (SN, January 17), the council produced a statement that reeked of contradiction and falls flat with so many Guyanese that it should not even be a news item.

The Council of Ministers reportedly stated they were satisfied the prorogation of Parliament was in keeping with the provisions of the Guyana Constitution and did not constitute a breach of the Commonwealth Charter. Additionally, they underscored the need for the respect of diplomatic proprieties and for adherence to the principles of non-interference in the domestic affairs of member states.

Editor, prorogation is constitutional, but so is parliament, and in a representative democracy, parliament trumps prorogation, which is only supposed to be used under extenuating circumstances to provide a short break in parliamentary sittings, and not as a political tool or weapon by an elected government to spite others. That was understandable but not excusable or acceptable in a bygone era; this is an era of self-government. Guyana’s parliament has not sat since July 10, 2014, and the Caricom Council of Ministers does not see this as a troubling development? Are these ministers budding dictators?

What does it really say of Caricom, a forum designed with its peoples in mind, when it is silent while one set of people in a member state are being denied their rights or worse? Is this hands-off approach by Caricom to be construed as an excuse to allow every member state to engage in various forms of human rights violations and still be coddled by fellow Caricom nations, or is Caricom an elite political club for elected and appointed officials to socialize?

Most Caricom member states belong to the Commonwealth group of nations, so why hasn’t Caricom adopted the Commonwealth Charter that both recognizes the vital role of parliament and allows it to sanction fellow members that refuse to adhere to the Charter? It boggles the mind that the British High Commissioner is speaking up for a Commonwealth member while Caricom ministers are saying they do not interfere in the affairs of member states.

This is an inexplicable contradiction that must be condemned across the region, because today Guyana has its parliament prorogued and people denied the right to local and general elections, but tomorrow it can be any other Caricom state. Is this where we are heading?

Just think of the regional and international repercussions it would have on the corrupt and dictatorial PPP regime if the Caricom Secretariat and the Commonwealth Secretariat were to join the growing voices calling for the PPP to respect laws, agreements and the people of Guyana? Rendering Guyana a pariah state for disregarding agreements and even laws will not reflect badly on the people of Guyana, but on the corrupt and dictatorial PPP, which appears to be running scared of elections because of its track record under Jagdeo-Ramotar.

We know enough to form an unshakeable opinion about this Jagdeo-Ramotar PPP, which must be distinguished from the Cheddi Jagan era PPP, but while we use the laundry list of wrongs as our guide in deciding regime change, we also need to focus on the sanctity of general elections, whenever they are held, because we can write and talk ad nauseam about voting the PPP out of office, but preparing for it and ensuring it is done will require thorough groundwork by the opposition parties and all members of civil society. This has to be one giant group effort that requires the nation be prepared to fight, because what the PPP is about to lose it will not want to lose easily and readily.

We also know we cannot count on Caricom nations to help us in this one because they don’t like to interfere in the internal affairs of member states; maybe some Caricom states are enjoying the different skill sets fleeing Guyanese are bringing, hence their reluctance to ‘interfere’. But we can count on the US, the UK and Europe to help mount pressure on the PPP regime to do the right thing and let the people decide who they want to lead the country. The election must be free and fair and free from fear.

Editor, it truly is an enigma to have a country the size of England and bigger than Italy, with so many natural resources and uninhabited land for its people to be fleeing to neighbouring Caricom states because of an uncertain future. But Guyana has enough untapped resources to enable Guyanese to enjoy their fair share of benefits from development projects and enough land space to accommodate fellow West Indians who want to help us develop. We simply need a truly caring party in government with visionary leadership.

Yours faithfully,

Emile Mervin