The Ministry of the Presidency has condemned comments made by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo during an event at Babu John, Port Mourant, calling them malicious and irresponsible, and warning citizens against unlawful behaviour.
The PPP, however, has countered government’s statement, saying that the ministry’s take is a “misleading characterization of comments”.
Following news reports recounting statements made by Jagdeo encouraging supporters to “chase” government officials if they entered the communities after March 21, the government and opposition have traded accusations. Without a parliamentary extension of the period for holding general elections the government would be considered to be illegal after March 21st.
Stabroek News reported yesterday that Jagdeo, addressing supporters over the weekend during the PPP’s commemoration of the birth anniversary of the party’s founder, Dr, Cheddi Jagan, stated, “Here in Berbice and right across Guyana, when the ministers or (President David) Granger or (Prime Minister Moses) Nagamootoo come here after the 21st of March, you say to them, walk behind them, chase them out.”
He added, “They are going to be illegal. Say to them, ‘You are illegal! Free up the country! You are undemocratic!’, before proceeding to tell supporters that plans are on stream for the same action across the country and the PPP will “get teams of people to picket them everywhere; in their homes, offices, everywhere.”
The Ministry of the Presidency, in its statement, called the Opposition Leader’s comments irresponsible and having the potential to possibly result in a breach of law by citizens. As such, the ministry condemned the comments as “unacceptable, malicious and mischievous”.
“Mr. Jagdeo has a history of wanton utterances and his most recent at (Babu John) has serious implications on peace, race relations and national security, particularly in an Election Year…The Government notes that any call to violence or a breach of public order must be deplored,” they stated.
Furthermore, the ministry warned that action will be taken against anyone who engages in unlawful behaviour, or follows through on any attempt to “chase” the President, Prime Minister or ministers of the government out of any region of Guyana.
Right to peaceful protest
The PPP, in an attempt to rebut the government’s comments on the matter, sent out their own press release rejecting the statement.
“The PPP General Secretary was clear in his call for peaceful protests by Party members and supporters after March 21, 2019 – the constitutionally mandated deadline for General and Regional Elections, following the passage of the no-confidence motion. The PPP General Secretary was clear in his message – after March 21, 2019, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government becomes illegal, illegitimate and unconstitutional,” the PPP stated.
As such, they posited that the government’s claim that Jagdeo’s comments can result in a breach of law is “misplaced”.
“The Guyanese people have a right to peacefully protest. That Guyana is on the precipice of a constitutional crisis makes it necessary for Guyanese to be able to send a clear message to the current Administration, including at times when APNU+AFC Coalition officials visit communities in Guyana, wastefully expending taxpayers’ monies. Our people have a right to their views about the ‘group of interlopers’ sitting in Government offices and refusing to respect and abide by the Constitution they swore to uphold,” the PPP asserted.
It added, “The APNU+AFC Coalition Government is clearly running scared of the consequences that will follow after March 21, 2019. It has also, already, demonstrated fear of the Guyanese electorate by advancing tactics to delay constitutionally mandated General and Regional Elections”.
Dual call for sanctions
Meanwhile, both PPP and APNU+AFC Members of Parliament have called for the other party to be sanctioned by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC).
APNU+AFC parliamentarian, Barbara Pilgrim, in her letter to the ERC yesterday, called Jagdeo’s statement “counter to our country’s values of Ethnic Relations and Social Cohestion”.
“This statement will only serve to create ethnic tensions and confusion in Region 6 where I reside, and can be interpreted to mean that government and other persons not connected to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic PPP/C must not be allowed in this region,” she concluded, going further to call for the ERC to “apply its strongest possible sanctions available against the maker of this statement”.
Zulfikar Mustapha, PPP/C parliamentarian, also wrote to the ERC yesterday.
He, on the other hand, asked that the ERC investigate the coalition government for several breaches which can have “grave consequences for our country, Guyanese people and national harmony.”
“Article 212 D of the Constitution of Guyana states the functions of the Ethnic Relations Commission include taking steps to “…monitor and review all legislation and all administrative acts or omissions relating to or having implications for ethnic relations…” In line with the Commission’s mandate, I request that the Commission investigate the Coalition
Government’s breach of Article 106 of the Constitution of Guyana, which would result in an illegal government after March 21, 2019 (the deadline for General for Regional Elections). This coupled with Coalition Government officials’ actions, which polarize our people via the circulation of racially (insighting) material on social media and via other platforms, will lead to an intensification of uncertainty and ethnic disharmony,” Mustapha concluded.
He, therefore requested that the ERC treat the matter “expeditiously” and apply appropriate sanctions in order to “avert the perils of this dangerous path that the Coalition Government seems bent on leading Guyana down”.
