By Nicole Telford- Former Magistrate, attorney -at-law Ms. Geeta Chandan-Edmond, APNU +AFC Member of Parliament, in a statement “categorically condemned the blockage at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport of Member of Parliament [MP] and senior member of the Alliance for Change (AFC), David Patterson.” Patterson was to have attended the Conference in Washington D.C on Discrimination in Guyana. The two-day conference will wrap up today.
However, when Patterson had arrived at the airport, cleared immigration and customs, was in the departure lounge, when an immigration officer told him a mistake was made and that the government had placed a no-fly order on him. The government has since said the decision was an error and Patterson, according to the Caribbean Guyana Institute For Democracy (CGID), a main organiser of the event, said Patterson will be attending the conference today and meet United States Congressional members on Capitol Hill.
Chandan-Edmond said ‘the Government of Guyana has demonstrated and affirmed the view that political persecution and the cracking down on their political opponents is alive and real in a dangerous way.’
The MP argued there should be little doubt that this directive proceeded from the highest levels of government and was surreptitiously whispered to junior functionaries of the Immigration Department.
Chandan-Edmond opined that ‘fearful about losing their jobs, these junior functionaries executed the illegal and egregious instructions. ‘
The former magistrate further stated that the People’s Progressive Party must be reminded that the political weapon of blacklisting citizens with trumped up charges, is not constitutional. This she said was made clear by Justice Navindra Singh in his High Court ruling on January 1, 2023 .
Chandan-Edmon tasked the Government to remember that the decisions of the Court must be respected and the conditions of bail must not be subject to the political whims and fancies of thin skinned snowflakes of the state who cannot handle critique and scrutiny.
The attorney is calling on the Government to desist from the practice of using the blacklist as a political tool in flagrant violation of the law. Further, she shared the view that it is prudent for legal proceedings to be initiated and this should serve as a deterrent to this unlawful practice and for a thorough investigation to be conducted into this most flagrant violation of Mr. Patterson’s rights which are guaranteed under our Constitution.’
The MP has also called on the acting Commissioner of Police to operate in a professional manner and desist from taking political directives. She added that ‘ the excuse that Mr. Patterson’s name was mistakenly left on the “No Fly List “is as comical as it is ridiculous.”
Chandan-Edmond used the opportunity to also remind the acting Commissioner of the Force’s Mission Statement :- “ The Mission of the Guyana Police Force and its auxiliaries is to serve all citizens and communities of Guyana in a professional, proactive and accountable manner.”
