PPP Executive Member Gail Teixeira has written the Police Commission urging him to defend, preserve and protect the law. Her letter follows public statements by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Finance Winston Jordan. Below is Teixeira’s full letter to the Commissioner:
Dear Commissioner,
I have cause to refer to a DPI, Guyana, report of Thursday, March 21, 2019, which states that
“the Commissioner of Police Leslie James is calling on Guyanese to remain calm and keep the peace. This follows concerns raised in certain sections, surrounding the legality of the government after March 21, 2019…..
The Commissioner underscored the fact that anyone who breaches the law will be held accountable and punished. The leadership and the members of the Guyana Police Force have noted on social media of seeming intention to disrupt the current calm in our society. May I warn that anyone found in breach of the law will be dealt with in a condign manner. The Force’s membership throughout the ten (10) Administrative Regions are on high alert and endeavours to prevent and respond to any eventuality” the Commissioner warned.”
I hope, sir, that as Commissioner, you continue to hold that same view following the June 18, 2019 ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the highest court of our land, which ruled that the unilateral appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission was flawed and in breach of the constitution; that the No Confidence Motion was valid, that 33 votes was the majority of all 65 elected members of the National Assembly and that Charandass Persaud’s vote was valid and that Persaud was free to vote outside his party’s list.
There is therefore no further room for doubt and ambiguity as to what is required by the President and government at this time.
These statements and declarations should no doubt also be cause for profound concern by the members of the Guyana Police Force and the entire citizenry.
In particular l would like to refer to a Demerara Waves report dated today, June 19th, 2019 with headline “Gov’t in defiance mode; “no registration, no election”- Jordan, Nagamootoo” with reference to statements they made at a public meeting in Bartica on the night of June 18,2019. I understand that you were also in Bartica.
Minister Jordan is quoted as saying “Notwithstanding the ruling today and not withstanding all the consequential orders, we will be here until the elections are called and we will be at the tape when the next term begins.” He stated that there would be no elections until there was house to house registration and called on supporters on the streets to picket “no registration, no elections.”
In the same report “the Prime Minister warned that if that if youths are disenfranchised there would be “trouble” if the youth are not registered.”
In another online news report by the Daily News Guyana “Jordan tells Barticians, “war break”, call on residents to be ready to take to the streets”. The report quotes the Minister as saying that “war break” as the CCJ handed down its decision on the Guyana no confidence motion, saying “no registration, no elections”.
A video of the said meeting, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootto stated that he “had put back on his olive green shirt as he was back in battle gear, back in the battle and will not be surrendered by him.”
These statements are inciting and a threat to public order and safety and are in contempt of the Caribbean Court of Justice rulings of June 18, 2019.
Your statement of March 21, 2019, is more relevant now than then as we have now the rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the highest court, and we are all therefore expected to abide by the CCJ rulings that the No Confidence Motion is valid and elections must be held within the shortest time.
I, therefore, call on you as Commissioner and the custodian of public safety and order to carry out your mandate vigorously and to publicly defend, preserve and protect the rule of law and the Guyana Constitution in our nation.
