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Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Annette Ferguson had submitted several questions to the National Assembly, requesting information of the cost the Attorney General’s Chambers is paying for retaining private counsels (attorneys-at-law). Before the Assembly proceeded on recess August 9, 2024 her questions were tabled to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall MP.
The MP told Village Voice News the sole purpose of her questions was to get answers in relation to the number of court matters the Attorney General’s Chambers is engaged in, the costs associated with the cases, and who are the retainers. She said answers were provided regarding the list of cases, showing that for 2022, the Chambers had a total of 167 cases, and in 2023 a total of 131 cases.
However, responses were not provided for the sum of money the state paid or is paying the private attorneys. The minister also did not provide the name of the retainers (private lawyers). Rather, the Attorney General, responded that the questions were “misconceived…”
Ferguson expressed surprise at the minister’s flippant approach to the business of the state and being answerable for taxpayers’ money. According to the MP, it is sad to witness the level the National Assembly has descended to, when it comes to ministers having to respond to questions.
“Members of the Parliament on the Government side behave as though they are not answerable to the people,” she asserted. The MP opined the refusal by Nandlall to provide answers to her questions “can only be characterised as deliberate, since he wants to avoid embarrassment.”
An undeterred Ferguson said given the information was not made available in the National Assembly, she feels compelled to call on Nandlall to make public the following:
- The name of the member who has been retained by the Attorney General’s Chambers for matters against Mr. Rickford Burke.
- What process was used to retain the services of the member?
- What is the retainer’s fees for each matter?
- Was the retainer paid any money?
- If yes, above, kindly provide breakdown?
- Are these matters before the Courts?
- If yes, when were these matters heard and before which Judge or Judges?
- Were there provisions in Budget 2024 for retainer fees?
- Have any payments made to the retainer for 2024?
- If yes to (9) above, kindly provide breakdowns for ALL matters?
Ferguson provided, below, evidence of the questions submitted to the National Assembly and has expressly made known she is looking forward to hearing from the minister or seeing his responses to her questions.
In 2023, Burke, who is President of the United States-based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), was charged with conspiracy with other persons to publish defamatory libel with a view to extort money, and conspiracy with other persons to offer to abstain from publishing defamatory libel with a view to extort money.
Ferguson’s questioning and the refusal of the minister to provide answers only serve to highlight widespread concerns in society about the secrecy of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government, in managing the affairs of the state, and unwillingness to provide information even when asked in the National Assembly. Parliament, according to the Constitution of Guyana, is the country’s highest decision-making forum. It is also the branch (legislative) of government that reflects all Guyana’s elected representatives, across the political divide, who met the numerical criteria to win seats.
