STATEMENT BY US, UK and EU Rejected!

Posted on by

PRESS STATEMENT: CGID REJECTS STATEMENT BY US, UK & EU ON THE STATUS OF THE GUYANA GOVERNMENT, CONDEMNS INTERFERENCE IN GUYANA’S INTERNAL AFFAIRS 

The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) rejects the statement today by the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union that Guyana’s APNU+AFC coalition government is in breach of the Guyana constitution, because elections were not held by September 18, 2019. This is an arbitrary date fixed by the political opposition PPP. It has no basis in law.

CGID condemns this blatant breach of Guyana’s sovereignty by the US, UK and EU, as well as deplores their nefarious interference in Guyana’s internal affairs. We also strongly denounce their apparent coordination with the opposition, which can potentially engender political instability and undermine our democracy. This display of prejudice by the Missions will deminish the respect and trust the Guyanese people repose in these foreign Governments.

The assertion that the government of Guyana is in breach of the constitution is false, irresponsible and baseless. CGID therefore challenges the Missions to cite the authority they used as the basis for their misguided and provocative statement, which is contemptuous of the Guyanese people and political process.

It is grossly hypocritical for Missions of the United States and the United Kingdom particularly, to presume to the lecture the Guyanese government and people about constitutional compliance when their individual governments are currently being challenged in court for violating their nations’ constitution.

In fact, on September 11, 2019, the Scottish Appeal Court – the Inner House of the Court of Sessions, ruled that the suspension of the British Parliament by the British government is unconstitutional. Such a matter demands the attention of the British Government and its representatives who now seek to collude and cast aspersions with respect to a matter that has been fully ventilated in Guyana’s highest courts. Thus we urge these parties to get their own houses in order.

CGID reiterates that the matters in connection with the December 21, 2018 no confidence motion were fully ventilated at the Guyana Supreme Court, Court  of Appeal as well the Caribbean Court of Justice. At no time has any court cited or sanctioned any constitutional violation by the APNU+AFC coalition government. Consequently, it is remarkable that these Missions have seemingly embraced an invention of the political opposition.

Guyana’s political and electoral processes and national destiny shall be determined solely by the people of Guyana and not foreign governments. CGID therefore call on the US, British and EU Missions to cease interfering in Guyana’s internal affairs; respect Guyana’s sovereignty and maintain neutrality with regard to Guyana’s politics.

Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) September 19, 2019

11 thoughts on “STATEMENT BY US, UK and EU Rejected!”


  1. UNACCEPTABLE NEGLIGENCE BY GUYANA POLICE FORCE COMPROMISED THE SAFETY OF THE PRESIDENT AND MINISTERS

    Earlier today PPP protesters blocked, and or forced the detour, of convoys of President David Granger, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, and other government ministers, from entering the Guyana Pegasus Hotel where President Granger was scheduled to address a meeting of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA).

    Moreover, protesters entered the hotel auditorium and disrupted the meeting and the President’s speech.

    CGID is shocked at the poor level of security and intelligence provided by the Guyana Police Force. It is worrying that the Police allowed protesters to disrupt the President’s safe passage as well as his speech in the exercise of his duties as Head of State.

    CGID believes that this gross negligence by the Police endangered the life of the President and several ministers.

    The Institute therefore calls on the government to hold the leadership of the Guyana Police Force accountable and to immediately make changes to the nation’s intelligence apparatus, to ensure this never occurs again.

    Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) September 19, 2019

    Reply ↓

  2. Guyana Trades Union Congress

    Press Release

    19th September 2019

    Diplomatic community must join Guyanese in upholding Rule of Law not trampling same

    The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) in the strongest possible term expresses concern about the out of order statement issued today by the United States, United Kingdom and European Union as to when an election can be held following the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) ruling on 18th June 2019 that the 21st December 2018 no-confidence vote was validly passed. Nowhere in the Judgement handed down by the CCJ on 12th July, pertaining to the 18th June ruling, was the timeline set as September 18th. Nor was the 14th August ruling by acting Chief Justice (CJ) Roxane George-Wiltshire SC set a date as no later than September 18th.

    In fact, when 18th September was proposed by the Opposition’s representative to the CCJ our own media -Stabroek News on the 13th July- noted the court “declined” the request (Refer to “CCJ dubs gov’t ‘caretaker’ but elections date a no-go”). Acting CJ on 14th August ruled the High Court cannot rule that elections must be held by September 18th 2019, which is a reiteration of the CCJ’s ruling. GTUC invites members of the identified diplomatic community to have an objective re-reading of these rulings.

    It is erroneous to advise Guyanese and the world that “by surpassing September 18, the Government is currently in breach of the Constitution following its failure to adhere to the decisions of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on 18 June and its subsequent orders.” This view is not only unfortunate but erroneous, risking the consequence of impugning the erstwhile reputation of the CCJ and the esteemed Justices who presided over the case. This is treading dangerous waters.

    This nation must have an election consistent with Article 106(7) of the Guyana Constitution. Litigation by the parties on the validity of the no-confidence vote was not settled until June by Guyana’s court of last resort, the CCJ. Whether it could be argued that either or both parties used the court system as delaying tactic is beside the point, for both have exercised the constitutional right to legal justice. This act must be heralded as a progressive step by Guyana to resolve differences in a lawful and orderly manner.

    In the exercise of the right the minimum timeframe which an election could have been held, i.e. by 22nd March 2019, which is “within three months” was overtaken. This now kicks in the next proviso “or such longer period.” The realisation of this requires not only GECOM stating its readiness as to when an election could be held but also activation of the said proviso of “by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the national assembly so determine….” Both the CCJ and acting CJ have ruled there must be compliance with the extant article.

    President David Granger cannot issue a date for election outside of the National Assembly granting the authority to do so since the three months period has lapsed. Where the Guyana Elections Commission has today announced its timeline as to its readiness for General and Regional Elections, Government and Opposition must commence engagement not only on an election date but matters of day-to-day governance.

    GTUC is not unmindful of support/ solidarity with regards to governance as Guyanese navigate the new terrain (no-confidence era) what we reject, in the strongest possible term, is support for violating the Constitution and Laws of Guyana and disrespecting the independence and rulings of our judicature. We expect the representative of these countries- notwithstanding their current internal political turmoil- to also respect us -notwithstanding ours- to seek orderly and lawful means in resolving differences. Likewise, as citizens of their countries expect no less Guyanese are no less deserving.

    Further, the implied threat that the current situation “also hinders [the US, UK & EU] ability to support Guyana’s development needs” is most unfortunate given the premise upon which such position has been arrived at. Gut feeling, propaganda and/or influence peddling that the election should be held by September 18th without an act of the National Assembly or GECOM’s advising as to its readiness is/are not only reckless but unjust coming from the Western world where ‘lesser’ countries such as ours have been socialised to look up to as the bastion of democracy. If these bodies must take a side it bodes well for nationhood and worldwide comity for such to be consistent with the Rule of Law.

    The Rule of Law must prevail in the West equally as it must in this small resource-rich South American nation called Guyana. Both the interim/caretaker President and interim/caretaker Leader of the Opposition must engage on a way forward, including returning to the National Assembly and putting systems in place how government will function in this period until an election is held and a new government is elected or the incumbent re-elected.

    The Leader of the Opposition forms part of the Executive as per the Constitution (Chapter X). Ipso facto, if the government has caretaker/interim status likewise is the status of the said office and its holder. Good sense must prevail. Any political and constitutional act, inaction or uncertainty they must be held to account in equal measure. We must hold both feet to the fire to give meaning to Article 106, which the court upheld.

    GTUC invites our Western partners to join with the workers of Guyana in calling on both Government and Opposition to respect the ruling of the judiciary and the Constitution as expressed. Guyana and Guyanese now more than ever need this type of solidarity for interest on rights and the Rule of Law we would like to think is not mutually exclusive but intertwined.

    Reply ↓

  4. Why don’t these countries keep out of the internal affairs of Guyana? The USA and the UK with the aid of the CIA are responsible for the situation in Guyana today. The intervention and removal of Jagan exacerbated the racial tensions resulting in a race war. Burnham was foisted by the UK and the USA on the Guyanese people. Take the case of the overseas Guyanese votes: my dad refused to register, but he received notification that he had voted; The UK and USA said nothing. Guyana is going to descend into racial conflict.

    Reply ↓

  5. Accurate assessment David, very accurate assessment. Let’s pray that Barbados never discovers abundant oil fields within our jurisdiction.

    I am still awaiting comment from those concerned countries on what happened and is happening in the USA. Can you imagine a Caribbean Head of Government behaving in this manner with nit a murmur from this trio? Unheard of, for sure.

    Reply ↓

  7. I dont see these other Nation Governments talking of Crook Nation Barbados in the same manner in the Massive Land fraud, land and money laundering in this state, Seem the Big Boys want Kaos to feed their agenda, The need to go after this crime Minister of Barbados, Where ever they find oil they want the oil at WAR prices,

    Reply ↓

  8. @DavidSeptember 20, 2019 6:20 PM “In many ways the lack of comment on topics like this says a lot.”

    Ya right David.

    Or maybe we int commenting because we perceive that the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) doesn’t want to hear dissenting voices.

    We fear that they will tell us to sit down and shut up just as they have told the Americans the British and the Europeans to do “CGID therefore call on the US, British and EU Missions to cease interfering in Guyana’s internal affairs; respect Guyana’s sovereignty and maintain neutrality with regard to Guyana’s politics.”

    Reply ↓

    • Recently in an international forum prime minister Mia Mottley called for the resurrection of the non aligned movement to protect countries looking in from outside the G20. This post supports the case.

Leave a comment, join the discussion.