PETITION FROM CITIZENS OF GUYANA TO CARICOM HEADS OF GOVERNMENT INVITING CONSIDERATION ON ISSUES AFFECTING GUYANA

THIS HUMBLE PETITION of the undersigned citizens of Guyana, inviting CARICOM to make recommendations to the President and Government of Guyana to meaningfully address issues affecting the well-being of the citizens of Guyana, and, generally, calling on the leaders of our sister Caribbean countries to uphold our shared ideals of freedom, peace and justice by furthering the legitimate aspirations of our people for a society free from debilitating conflict, violence and fear of the future

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITS THAT:

WE, citizens of Guyana, representing various stakeholders, including political parties, social and professional organizations, private business entities and individuals:

CONSCIOUS of the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society for the Caribbean Community, adopted by Heads of Government of CARICOM, on 19 February 1997, especially, Article II - Respect for Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms, Article IV – Right to Life, Liberty and Security of the Person and Article VIII – Freedom of Expression and Access to Information;

FULLY AWARE that these fundamental rights are more specifically enshrined in Title I (Articles 139-154 (A)) of the Constitution of Guyana;

MINDFUL of the expressed commitment of CARCIOM Heads of Government, as reflected in the St Lucia Statement, of 2 July 1998, that “CARICOM remains committed to the peaceful settlement of differences and disputes within our region and states”;

FULLY AGREEING with the Objectives, stated in the Hermanston Accord, of “sustained dialogue ... with a view to fostering greater harmony and confidence and resolving issues on which agreement can be reached”;

DEEPLY CONCERNED about the deteriorating crime and security situation, as exemplified by the killing of 8 persons at Agricola Village in 2006, 5 workers of Kaieteur News at Eccles Estate, in August 2006, the recent attacks massacre of innocent civilians at Lusignan, at Bartica, and on members of the Joint Services, which have undermined public safety and national security;

ACKNOWLEDGING CARICOM’s expressed concern for Regional and National security, and noting the recent spiralling prices of food commodities with the destabilizing impact on individual countries;

FULLY AWARE of CARICOM’s commitment to freedom of expression, and access to information, and its respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms, as outlined in the Charter of Civil Society;

RECALLING that Chapter 3 of the National Development Strategy (2001-2010) “Eradicating Poverty and Unifying Guyana”, outlined the implications of Good Governance for Development and stated specifically that, “It is perhaps therefore true to state that if key elements of the strategy that is presented in this Chapter are not implemented, it is most unlikely that the social and economic developmental objectives which have been established as the overall goals of this National Development Strategy, will ever be attained”;

ALSO RECALLING that President Jagdeo and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Robert Corbin, agreed at Item 9 of their signed Communiqué, of 6 May 2003, that the issues of Inclusive Governance and the National Development Strategy would have been pursued urgently;

AND

NOTING the proposed hosting in Guyana of Carifesta X in 2008;

Hereby bring to the attention of CARICOM Heads of Government, for their consideration, the following matters of concern to citizens of Guyana:

a. The unilateral and arbitrary decision by the President of Guyana, in his capacity as Minister responsible for administering the Wireless and Telegraphy Act, inconsistent with the spirit and letter of the law, to suspend, by a procedure that was manifestly unfair and contrary to natural justice, the license of CNS TV Channel 6, a private local television station, for four months.
This action by the Government is but one example of its continual contumelious and contumacious behaviour, since 2001. There have been:
- threats to, and closure of, HBTV Channel 9;
- threats to, and the undermining of, the economic interests of VCT Channel 28, by forcing the removal of a Lottery Broadcast contract from that station to the state-owned Channel 11 and, later, the cancellation of the TBN religious broadcasts in Guyana which were managed by VCT Channel 28;
- vilification and physical abuse of C.N. Sharma, the owner of CNS TV Channel 6, by the Governing Party’s activists with no redress in the courts; and
- removal of advertisements, by Government, from the privately owned Stabroek News, for more than seventeen (17) months.

The action of the President, in the above-mentioned capacity, is made more objectionable by his total disregard for the Memorandum of Understanding that he had signed, as President, with the late Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H D Hoyte, that established an Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB), the main purpose of which was to ensure that the Minister responsible would act only in accordance with its advice and that that body would be independent and autonomous. There has been no advice, tendered by the ACB, recommending the suspension of CNS TV Channel 6.

b. Prolonged inaction or outright refusal to enact Broadcast Legislation and establish an Independent National Broadcasting Authority, based on the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Radio Monopoly, Non-Partisan Boards and Broadcasting Legislation. The Report and recommendations of the Committee were adopted by the President and the late Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. D. Hoyte, in December 2001. The objective was to ensure that political control over media in Guyana was completely removed.

The effect of the inaction, described above, was compounded further by the breach of a renewed commitment, in the Communiqué of 6 May 2003, signed by President Bharrat Jagdeo and Mr. Robert Corbin, Leader of the Opposition, committing the Government to introduce Broadcasting legislation within four months of that date. Regrettably, approximately five years later, this remains yet another unfulfilled commitment by President Jagdeo.

c. The unlawful appointment of the Integrity Commission by the President, in breach of Section 3 of the Integrity Commission Act No. 20 of 1997. All attempts to have this matter determined by the Courts, over the last four years, have proved futile. The Integrity Commission was established to promote probity in public life.

d. The extension of the life of an improperly constituted Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), in 2006, by the President, in violation of Article 212 B of the Guyana Constitution. The ERC has its origins in the St Lucia Statement and is one of the mechanisms designed to promote better relations among the various ethnic groups in Guyana.

e. The contempt displayed by the Administration for the fundamental rights of citizens, as illustrated by:

· The arrest and detention of, and the subsequent laying of unsustainable charges of sedition against, Oliver Hinckson, retired Lieutenant of the Guyana Defence Force, (GDF).who has been refused bail while his case has been repeatedly adjourned at the behest of lawyers for the prosecution.
· The arbitrary arrest and detention of citizens on various pretexts – the common practice being to detain persons late on Friday so that they remain in custody for the weekend and are then released on Monday without any charge being brought.
· The use of brutal torture, by the Security Forces, against citizens, including Victor Jones, Patrick Sumner and David Zammett, in contravention of the International Convention Against Torture ratified by the Government.
· The unlawful destruction of property by the security forces, particularly at Buxton where the sanctity of homes has been violated with impunity, personal property wantonly destroyed and farms irreparably damaged.
· The unlawful killings of citizens by the security forces and the disappearance of others without a trace. The most recent examples of unlawful killing are those of Tyrone Pollard of Lot 81 Buxton Sideline Dam and Donna Herod.

f. The reluctance of the Government to commit to the enactment of Freedom of Information Legislation.

g. The domination of the state-owned television and of the monopoly radio station by the ruling Party, excluding all others, and the refusal of the Government to issue licenses for the establishment of private radio stations.

h. The failure of the Administration to provide any concrete measures for
genuine relief to Guyanese workers who are experiencing severe hardship, caused by the spiralling cost of living, with an inflation rate of 34% in 2007 and the increase in wages of only 9%, while the Administration expends limited financial resources for social extravaganza of lesser import. We believe that the VAT could be significantly reduced as a short term relief measure.

i. The refusal of the Government to proceed with consultations on Inclusive Governance, notwithstanding their commitment to do so, as expressed in the Communiqué, signed on 6 May 2003, and their acceptance of the National Development Strategy (NDS) of 2000 which emphasized good governance as a prerequisite for national development.

j. The apparent reluctance by the Government to pursue the implementation of the Guyana Security Reform Plan in a holistic manner which includes, inter alia:
i. “Linking Police Reform with actions in other areas of the security sector;
ii. “Strong linkages in particular with the ongoing programmes in Justice Reform and Citizen Security;
iii. “A need to address the root causes of criminal and political violence: poverty and unemployment..”

NOW THEREFORE WE, THE PETITIONERS, humbly pray that the Heads of Government of CARICOM would be pleased to accept this Petition and to carefully consider the matters herein carefully in the light of the stated CARICOM objectives for the Region and for Member States, AND, in accordance with those considerations, to:

A. MAKE recommendations to the President and Government of Guyana to address meaningfully the issues, including:

§ the removal of the suspension of the license of CNS TV Channel 6, owned by C N Sharma;
§ the withdrawal of sedition charges against Oliver Hinckson and his immediate release from custody;
§ the urgent enactment of Broadcast Legislation, based on the recommendations, contained in the Final Report of the Joint Committee on Radio Monopoly, Non-Partisan Boards and Broadcasting Legislation, submitted, on 7 December 2001, and adopted by President Jagdeo the late Leader of the Opposition, Mr H.D. Hoyte;
§ the licensing of private radio stations;
§ equitable access, by Parliamentary Parties, to the state-owned media;
§ the re-constitution of the Integrity Commission in accordance with the Integrity Commission Act No. 20 of 1997;
§ an immediate end to the denial of the fundamental rights of the citizens of Guyana as illustrated herein; and
§ the immediate enactment of the Freedom of Information Legislation.

B. Generally, use CARICOM’s collective influence in relation to Guyana’s affairs to facilitate the creation of an environment of peace and social stability, particularly as it relates to the advancement of the issue of Inclusive Governance/Shared Governance in Guyana, as a necessary prerequisite for progress, development and the security of Guyana and its citizens.

AND YOUR PETITIONERS IN DUTY BOUND WILL EVER PRAY

SIGNATORIES TO PETITION FROM CITIZENS OF GUYANA
TO CARICOM HEADS OF GOVERNMENT INVITING CONSIDERATION ON ISSUES AFFECTING GUYANA:


Please leave you Name and Organisation so that we express your support for this endeavour to Caricom.

Name Organisation

……………………………….. …………………………………

What about a polygraph test, Mr. President? by Khemraj Ramjattan

The recent surge of demonstrations sponsored by the PNC, especially coming so soon after being paid $100 million, did not surprise me. And surely it did not surprise the President and the PPP.Being once an insider in Jagdeo’s PPP, and being discerning enough to comprehend the sometimes muddled machinations from its calculating cabal, has taught me that the PPP’s giving is always an investment, and its tears are very often crocodile.So the President will behave as if he is surprised that the PNC has taken to the streets so irresponsibly after his big handout to that party. And he will shed some crocodile tears pretending that he means what he says when he says: “It would have been better had we supported the AFC in getting a proportion of the scrutineers’ monies.”When His Excellency was putting his best face forward on these matters at his press conference, I was shouting loudly: “How about a polygraph test Mr. President; to test whether you really mean what you’re publicly pronouncing?” You may have noticed that I deleted the expletives.I am aware of a couple of instances where this President would have failed a polygraph test. One such was the occasion when he said in front of my face at a PPP Central Committee meeting that I was a carrier of information to the American Embassy and the Press; and, later denied ever saying so. He even got 29 signatures to toe his line. Thank God there was a Moses who heard him distinctly saying so. Moses Nagamootoo has since been paying the penalty for hearing, and not being the 30th signatory.I hope this brings an end to the debate on polygraph tests ever being used to qualify persons for public office.The top brass of the PPP knows very well that this Government is taking a licking from even its own members. There is a massive vexation about the high food prices, the unbearable criminality in every category – against the person, against property and even against the State, the rapid impoverishment of large sections of our communities, and the arrogance and ignorance exhibited by Senior Government Officials in coming to grips with all this.A diversion is needed to take the PPP’s members and supporters’ minds off these hardships. The wranglings and rumblings within its own rank and file were occurring recently at Port Mourant, Rose Hall, Canje, Bath Settlement, Lusignan and New Amsterdam, as is well known. Persons protesting a multitude of grievances in PPP strongholds were being fired on with shots and teargas. Unbelievable you would think. Moreover, some were being violently arrested and locked up and charged.What does the PPP do? Create a diversion. What better diversion could there be to neutralize such internal crises, and such disunity within the PPP’s ranks and strongholds, than to see the PNC marchers breaking police barriers, causing a shut down at Parliament, and burning effigies in front of Parliament.How could this be done? Pay the PNC leaders some monies - a lil $100M. And as a leading insider would say: “Comrade you gon see how this payout gon payoff.”And it did. $100M of taxpayers’ monies was invested through the so called benevolence of the Jagdeo Government, intended for scrutineers, but cleverly to procure PNC antics in Georgetown’s main streets. Once the monies were paid out, the PPP well knew that this was going to happen, like night follows day. The PPP told its NCN camera-men to be prepared for it. These cameras from NCN were in full force taping and recording every detail. And later NCN was thereafter in full blast, broadcasting right up to 2 am especially in Berbice and Essequibo how PNC attacked Parliament. Yes - it twisted the story a little for the rural people. This happened for most of the prime time for the next three nights in Berbice and Essequibo particularly, and even in Demerara.And as was predicted, the priorities of the Babulalls and Beharrys got tangential if not wholly askew. The PPP is brilliant in doing what they do – spend the State’s money and get political mileage even though such a spending is obscene as this. The PNC cannot be restrained from doing what they do – march straight into the PPP’s trap and get burnt. Then the cussdown starts - Luncheon versus Aubrey Norton, Jagdeo versus Corbin. This will go on for another month. In the meantime, the Babulalls and Beharrys abandon any further deliberation on how rotten the PPP Government is as fear drives them back into camp, having seen the PNC’s outbursts live in the safety of their homes. This will go on until both the members and supporters of the PPP and PNC realize that there is every need for a politics of change. Liberation in Guyana will now mean a breaking of the shackles from the PNC and PPP. A blind fanaticism driven largely by fear must yield to reason. Only when reason prevails will there be a genuine democracy. Such a democracy includes not only free and fair elections, but also good governance and the rule of law.This kind of PPP politics which is played out in Guyana today has deleterious effects on senior officials who are to referee the system. They too get taken in by these obscenities, these deformities.This happened to the officials at GECOM. Remember how GECOM, through Mr. Boodhoo, said GECOM is not involved in the distribution of monies for scrutineers, much less to apportion it proportionately. “We have no mandate to deal with these money issues” was what Mr. Boodhoo was telling us in the AFC, even in the face of a court order. Ask Patterson and Franklin. Today from all the reports and statements from President Jagdeo and Roger Luncheon and even Robert Corbin it was GECOM which approved the payment of $100M each to the PPP and PNC Chief Scrutineers.It does appear that GECOM officials too may not be able to pass a polygraph test.GECOM miscounted, in the last general elections, the votes of the AFC in Region 10 to deny us our sixth seat in Parliament. It now has misconstrued its legal authority causing the AFC to be denied approximately $21M. It would not be out of place to mount a campaign to demand locally, regionally and internationally the resignation of these jagabats in GECOM. They, it seems at least to the AFC, are neither numerate nor literate.