Georgetown, Guyana — It is clear that certain members of the democratically elected government of Guyana conspired with the opposition People’s Progressive Party to destabilize same and force elections within 90 days. Government Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo should be forced to explain the reasons for his eager capitulation in accepting the vote of confidence within hours of the vote, thereby causing a gaggle of self-interested civil society members to call for acceptance and calm in the wake of the vote. Party leader Trotman should be called to explain the steps AFC took to properly investigate Charrandass Persaud.
Conspiracy
The people of Guyana demand to know the specific steps the AFC took to investigate Charrandass Persaud after his name was offered to then a full month before the vote of confidence. By November 15, 2018, AFC leaders were given Charrandass’s name, he was known to be historically disaffected, he gave up his office before the vote, he spoke to friends about ‘an early morning trip’ after the vote. That he was not recalled is perhaps the worst case of political incompetence in Guyana’s history or a conspiracy to undermine the government. Guyanapolitics2020.com has it on good authority that Charrandass was paid for his vote. All of the facts on the table point to a treasonous conspiracy which must be thoroughly investigated before citizens of Guyana move to elections. Elections in 90 days is therefore unrealistic and premature.
Illegal Vote – Motion did not carry
Esteemed Counsel Nigel Hughes has offered the view that 34 votes were needed for the motion of no confidence to pass. Former Speaker, Ralph Ramkarran also agreed with this position a full three weeks before the vote. Suspiciously, he changed his position just days ago, claiming he meant two abstentions for the motion to pass. He has since declared his founding membership in a new political party ANUG. Citizens should judge for themselves whether Ramkarran had a strong motive for changing his position. Either way, any reasonable mind would agree that this position should be settled in the courts.
Unconstitutionality of the ‘no confidence’ vote
Recently, the Diaspora organization CGID conferred with lawyers for an interpretation of Article 153 of the Guyana constitution. Summarized, the article infers that members who plan not to support the list, must either inform the speaker or his party leader before a vote. If Speaker were not informed before action is taken, then that member is automatically disqualified and therefore not eligible to vote. This position too must be tested in the courts.
In truth, former President Jagdeo knows that he erred. If he had paid two government members to abstain, then he would have been on solid legal ground. Instead, he paid at least one of them to change their vote, essentially causing the traitor to be identified and in the end, he will gain nothing.
Guyanese citizens must not allow themselves to be tricked by the deceitful, duplicitous, power hungry Bharrat Jagdeo. We call on members of the international community, civil society, and citizens of Guyana to encourage the government to have these matters sorted in court. Absent that, the people will feel tricked and cheated. Guyanese citizens take pride in their budding democracy, they therefore expect fairness and justice to prevail in deciding these matters. Calls for calm are premature and insulting, the people need to hear more calls for justice.
