The GTUC condemns in the strongest possible term the content of Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall’s recorded conversation with a media reporter. The abuse of privilege vested in our elected officials must not be tolerated and every citizen, regardless of political persuasion, ethnicity or creed, has a responsibility to protect our laws and avoid the transgressing of rights and privileges. A clear message ought to be sent to those in the Government who seek to justify or defend the AG’s despicable conduct.
The question before us is not whether the conversation was illegally taped as the government seems pre-occupied with. This is fake concerned and diversionary tactic coming from a government who used similar act- as conducted by Roger Khan on their behalf- to condemn and call on former Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix to resign because of the content of a taped conversation involving him. What we are witnessing here is not only double standards, but downright wickedness, contempt for others and abuse of public office.
When the Attorney General can flaunt his caste status with contempt for others he clearly perceived as lesser than, in a society which Constitution says all are equal, but moreso his access to the corridors of power and the abuse of such power in furtherance of a chokehold on society, it says we are living in dangerous times. The AG’s threats as heard in the recording are tantamount to mafia behaviour. The claimed knowledge/threat to the use of weapons in the building of Kaieteur News would obviously bring destruction to lives and property. We condemn it and call on all Guyana to be vigilant in the face of this provocation.
Threat to freedom of the press
What is driving the defilement of our public offices is the intent of the office holders to silence the independent press. The never-ending assault on press freedom has become characteristic of the Jagdeo/Ramotar administrations, which seem hell bent on silencing some sections in the media fraternity, in their desire to control the nation’s narrative and determine how the citizenry interpret reality. The world is now an opened society, the Cold War is over. Freedom of the press is integral to maintaining this openness in the fight for an equitable and just society. This freedom must not be stifled or silenced. A free press must be allowed to bloom because it is a critical pillar for good and accountable government.
GTUC’ position of AG/Gov’t treatment of taped conversation
The Attorney General must recognise that he has a responsibility to operate with a high level of probity, both in his public and private life. The various acts that unfolded during the taped conversation, where he has used his position of privilege to acquire from the Consolidated Fund monies in personal pursuit as though it’s a Bank, is immoral and a naked abuse of power. The AG ought to do the decent thing and tender his resignation and save the nation the burden of speaking about his despicable behaviour, or President Ramotar should let him go.
The GTUC takes this opportunity to communicate our dismay and displeasure with President Ramator’s public utterances on this issue. The disrepute the AG has brought to the Executive and nation is not something the president should countenance. We, in the GTUC remember Mr. Ramotar as a trade unionist, and a member of the then opposition addressing a gathering at the Joseph Pollydore auditorium, imploring the need for prudent and decent government. The opportunity is his today to make good on this vaunted pronouncement.
The GTUC believes if the AG does not resign, or the president fails to demand his resignation, then the opposition must take action to restore dignity and pride in the esteemed office, by exploring and enacting parliamentary measures.
The protection of the life and safety of every individual is a responsibility of the State and when the State turns on its people, the people have a responsibility to fight back by holding the operatives accountable, in form and in deed.
National Assembly and sitting
The National Assembly continues to be used as a weapon to defend the collusion and rascality of some elected Members and this must be taken seriously. The GTUC sees the argument advanced by the operatives to delay the sitting of the House as puerile.
Our view takes into consideration the will of the people and basic work rules. The operatives can argue, be they the Speaker, the Clerk of the Assembly, the Chief Whips, the President, the Leader of the Opposition and political parties, as to who has the responsibility to reconvene Parliament. Our position is very simple- The will of the people will must be taken into consideration for they have elected 65 members to the National Assembly and we expect them to turn up there and work in our interest.
The Clerk is a mere servant of the people and has a responsibility to the people. He does not have the power, privilege or authority to disregard the desire of the people to meet and deliberate on matters of national import. The Standing Orders and Constitution are clear and we expect compliance.
The failure to return to work brings into question the issue whether our elected representatives should be paid, because they are not on sick leave or paid vacation. What is happening is that reasons are being found for Members not to work or in furtherance of the disregard for the nation’s highest decision-making forum. Recess is over and we believe the National Assembly should be convened. And where the Assembly fails to return to work the Parliamentarians ought not to be paid, since every employee, in the Public Service or Private Sector, who refuses to report for duty will not be paid. We cannot have two different standards in the same society. Our elected representatives must lead by example.
Local Government elections
The GTUC condemns the latest announcement by President Ramotar that he will not advice the Minister of Local Government to call Local Government Elections (LGE). This is a gross abuse of power. When the president and his team took the oath of office to uphold the Constitution, said constitution has enshrined local government elections to be held every three years.
We are witnessing the lowest of low and contempt for the supreme law of the land. It is not the president’s prerogative to determine when the people will enjoy what’s constitutionally theirs. His task is to uphold the constitution by executing what is in the Constitution. This level of lawlessness and crassness masks a fear of losing political power/control. And in the fear of losing this power, by a party that feels it has a right to govern, they are engaging in gross violations of the Constitution and the people’s fundamental right to self-determination.
The GTUC reiterates it calls for the holding of LGE which is long overdue. We also urge the opposition to use their parliamentary majority to amend the People’s Representative Act which would name a specific time (e.g. second Monday in August) when LGE must be held in effort to put the power back in the hands of the people, and eliminate the naked abuse of the people’s power and trampling of their rights by the Jagdeo/Ramotar administrations.
