Guyanese businessman Dr. Terrence Campbell has reminded Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley of her statement during Guyana’s 2020 General and Regional Elections, where she said, “there must be room for all regardless of who wins and who loses.” As fate would have it Mottley was Chairperson of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as she is now, as Guyana prepares for elections later this year. In a Facebook post, tagging Mottley, Campbell expressed disappointment, noting that in Guyana, only the winners and their close allies seem to have a place.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) stands accused by the Opposition and sections of civil society of marginalising opposition supporters and communities while victimising those perceived as political enemies. Campbell shared his personal story of victimisation, recounting how, despite receiving a waiver on penalties and interest from the Guyana Revenue Authority in September 2020, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo used the waiver to defame him.
Drawing a parallel, Campbell asked Mottley if his experience sounded familiar. He reminded the Prime Minister, that Owen Arthur, former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition in Barbados, defamed her father to get to her. However, Campbell stressed that his experience was far worse.
Campbell described being labeled a racist, falsely accused of criminal behavior, and subjected to 24 instances of police surveillance. He claimed to have faced threats of further police action, and while Guyanese authorities may deny these incidents, he insisted that he has evidence to back his claims. To aid Mottley’s understanding of the situation, Campbell shared links from various news outlets to highlight the state of democracy in Guyana.
“I hope this note will deepen your understanding of the fear that accompanies every election,” Campbell wrote, urging Mottley to intervene before Guyana falls further into autocracy, which could lead to social unrest. He ended his note reminding the Prime Minister of the Guyanese call for inclusivity, represented in her statement that: “There must be room for all.”
Elsewhere, Campbell has voiced his support for implementing biometrics in time for the 2025 elections. He argued that without it, the elections’ credibility would be in question, leading to dissatisfaction among the Guyanese people and potential unrest. Despite GECOM’s recent announcement that biometrics would not be used in the 2025 elections, Campbell, along with the political opposition and sections of civil society, has rejected this decision. They are upping the pressure to have it implemented.
In an attempt to bring global attention to the ongoing political situation in Guyana Campbell tagged various Caribbean leaders and international bodies, namely: Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley; St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. Ralph Gonsalves; Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Dr. Gaston Browne; Grenada Prime Minister Dr. Dickson Mitchell; Suriname President Chan Santokhi; Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness; St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew; St Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre; Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis; U.S Embassy; European Union; British High Commission; Canadian High Commission.
