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

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