Dear Editor
One of the PPP/C speakers, during the Budget debate 2021, accused the former A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance for Change coalition government of ‘’trampling the Constitution”.
Editor, before I respond to such a misplaced phrase, which forms part of the avalanche of lies that have been poured into the august halls of the National Assembly, permit an observation.
It is well recorded, that the new PPP/C entrants to the house have been well schooled in the art of pernicious lies. Not even half- truths; just simply lies, lies, and more lies. It would seem that such has to be a test piece before these newbees are considered fit and eligible for being seated as representatives of their party.
Further, it is noted that rather than debate the merits of the contents of Budget 2021, most of their house presentations have been directed at attempts at abusing the coalition, seeking desperately to either rubbish/dismantle the coalition’s outstanding record of socio-economic achievements, to be seen throughout Guyana, in the coastal communities, despite the many grave challenges and difficulties it inherited from 23 disastrous years of PPP/C regime rule of a criminal state and mismanagement of the national economy, marked by mafia state governance, degutting of the state finances and other material resources, and other venalities which are well chronicled.
In fact, it must be reminded of a particular speaker some days ago, who had the shameless temerity to accuse the former coalition government of being the most corrupt in the country’s history – that there is a State Department Report on the Jagdeo regime, which described him as being the ‘Head of a Mafia State’. One does not have to be a political analyst to understand what such a content description would have been as to the proven inputs of such a criminal administration, of which death squads; armed gangs and executions; narcotics, and Guyana being a transshipment point for such a criminal trade, became international hallmarks. And if he wants further evidence that such criminal good times under the government he serves has returned, the interception of two shipments of multi ton hauls of cocaine stand as STARK EVIDENCE OF WHAT THE PPP/C REPRESENTS.
But now, I must return to the lie; the big lie of ‘trampling the Constitution’.
One wonders whether this MP and minister of the PPP/C regime, understands that her barefaced lie – just one among many in her budget presentation – devalues her pretence at being a representative of moral truth? Perhaps, I will commence with this reminder – that there has been no government, in the history of the Caribbean Community, and this includes even the Burnham administration, that has had such a sordid, brutal history of trampling a constitution, such as what the PPP/C did for twenty three years. Some of its flagrant acts, have been co-incidentally stated above, and maybe, one should not continue with any more of the numerous that had reduced this nation to a pariah state. But here are a few others, of which this MP cannot claim ignorance.
Suspects being detained for in excess of the statutory 72 hours by state authorities
Persons being killed in state custody.
Extra-judicial killings which became a daily occurrence.
The condoning of a narco lord, who murdered at will, claiming that he had been battling criminal elements; but who had been in fact protecting his drug empire
The deliberate policy of institutionalization of race, which exacted a scorched earth socio-economic toll on sections of the nation’s demographics, as marginalization, and discrimination along ethnicity, became the order of the day. In fact, it underpinned an unmistakable PPP/C policy of domination by race
The omission of Afro Guyanese from the top echelons of the country’s diplomatic corps, under the dishonest pretext – Roger Luncheon’s public statement, made in court – that there were not qualified African Guyanese for such posts. A continuous policy of acting judges, thus calling into question their security of tenure. This unwieldy, rather unconstitutional travesty was brought to an end by the David Granger administration. Editor, the above are just a microcosm of the examples of what this barefaced MP and minister has sought to ascribe to the former Granger administration, but which are examples that defined what a PPP/C regime is. But let us continue:
What graver example of’ trampling the constitution’ than the PPP/C leaders, all conspiring with both known local elements – many bought out to secure their support; and various interests in both Europe and Western states, as they all plotted to remove a democratically elected government by way of REGIME CHANGE. In essence, the elections were just an opportunistic façade for the perpetration of such a constitutional criminality; for if memory serves correctly, a certain member of the visiting Carter Centre team, immediately on arrival, and before the March 2 national elections, began talking publicly about regime change.
One does not suppose that this MP, seeking to display mettle with the notion of how good a learner of the PPP/C devious penchant for lies and falsification, but pretending to speak the truth, can claim no knowledge or understanding of the gravity of what the rigged eelections election results which manifested itself throughout PPP/C enclaves, with missing poll books; counter foils and other statutory documents that are absolutes for both voter verification, and votes cast, meant for elections that were patently rigged in its many constituencies.
For there to have been in excess of 25 ballot boxes, with a reported 11000 votes found without any of the officially prescribed documents, present, must certainly explain to this minister what trampling of the constitution means. This was undoubtedly a significant example of what ‘trampling the constitution means’, which had taken place in a cluster of PPP/C strongholds.
Finally, this MP must explain why the post of deputy speaker had been denied the coalition opposition; the coalition not being consulted on critical pieces of legislation recently passed within the National Assembly, included amendment legislation to a budget agency. The list is endless, but the above would suffice as some of the examples of trampling the constitution, carried out without due regard by the PPP/C. Perhaps, as a final example, the case of the Minister who took her oath as a member of the National Assembly, while at the time still being a dual citizen is another example of the PPP/C installed regime continues to trample the constitution.
The minister who would have made such an accusation against the coalition government must be informed that even in the heady heat of parliamentary debate that such groundless talk ought not to be made, since it adds no clarity, and is a further anti-truth which cannot enhance the Assembly in any way. This applies to the other MP and minister who must be reminded that he sits as a member of an installed government. His frantic lie does/will not change or enhance such a poignant reality; for no such entity that has been the beneficiary of regime change, can deny such a brand.
Regards
Charles Christopher
