President, Gov’t must desist from further abusing the constitution – Accountant Nigel Hinds 

Accountant Nigel Hinds, who has been outspoken on several national issues, Wednesday evening said Guyana is heading into much worse than a constitutional crisis if a date for elections is not announced and the 90-day timeline for elections runs out.

“My main goal at this forum is to appeal to the President and his ministers to desist from furthering abusing the constitution and to keep faith with the constitution they swore to uphold,” Hinds said at a forum organised by the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre.

According to Hinds, since the passage of the No Confidence motion, the Government has trampled on and violated several articles of the Constitution and further compounded their constitutional abuse by disregarding the ruling of the Chief Justice made on January 31, 2019.

“The truth is that our Government is liable for multiple breaches of the constitution after the December 21, 2018, No confidence vote as they have trampled on and violated several articles of the Constitution and further compounded their constitutional abuse by disregarding the ruling of the Chief Justice made on Thursday, January (31), 2019,” he stated.

Hinds said that Guyana is facing a testing period with lots at stake if elections are not called before the 90-day period from December 21 expires.

“We are appealing to the virtue that resides in their reason and intellect by asking them to move with quickness and desist from illegal actions,” Hinds said.

He appealed to the President and those who form his Government to desist from any illegal actions. He emphasised that there has been no pause to the effect of the No Confidence vote though the Government has appealed the decision of the High Court which has validated the No Confidence vote.

“By their narratives and actions, the Government has without compunction twisted words and abandoned reason at several levels by using their office to abuse constitutional provisions,” he stated.

Hinds said sooner rather than later, the international community must speak with one voice about the political situation here, though he cited public pronouncements from the United Kingdom, the United Nations and the European Union calling for respect for the constitution.

“Politicians should have the courage to face the electorate when elections are due and between elections to maintain and strengthen our democracy,” he stated.

Looking to the future, whenever elections are held, he said the people must hold politicians to their promises.

“Even though we are in this ditch, so to speak, where our constitution is being trampled upon, we know at some point we will be before the electorate and promises will be made.

“We’ll have the glossy manifestos, but it behoves us to ensure that at least we have some 60-70 percent hit rate on those promises made, and not reside in the bowels of a 10-15 percent achievement rate,” he stated.

The accountant said he was mindful of the consequences he and others face for speaking out.

“In fighting the good fight, it is a small price to pay if our reputation is stained, and in the process, we are slandered.

“It is the pursuit of the greater good by reducing suffering among our people that is most important in being a servant leader,” he declared.