Guyana’s Opposition party is questioning why Caricom has not weighed in on the country’s ongoing political crisis.
Speaking with television host Hema Ramkissoon on CNC3’s Morning Brew programme, yesterday morning, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) presidential candidate Irfaan Ali complained about Caricom’s silence on the issue.
Ali said: “Caricom has a responsibility to protect democracy and they have said nothing and done nothing to step in.”
Ali said that there were numerous peaceful protests around the country after President David Granger failed to set a date for national elections on Wednesday.
“What has happened is that over the past 24 hours our country has slipped into a full-blown dictatorship,” Ali said.
He also said the country was concerned by a joint statement issued by the United States Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, United Kingdom High Commissioner Greg Quinn and European Union Ambassador Fernando Ponz Canto, on Thursday. In the statement, the diplomats thanked the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for stating that it would be able to facilitate the elections in February, next year.
However, it claimed that Granger’s government was in breach of the country’s constitution as it failed to adhere to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)’s decision to uphold a no-confidence motion passed by the country’s National Assembly in December, last year.
“The prevailing political uncertainty undermines Guyanese institutions, compromises economic opportunities and delays development across all areas including infrastructure, education, health, and social services.
“It also hinders our ability to support Guyana’s development needs,” the diplomats said.
Ali said that the statement was unprecedented and sent a serious message to foreign investors especially those interested in the country’s burgeoning oil and gas industry.
“It is clear that you cannot do business with this government. It is illegitimate and illegal,” Ali said.
In its judgement, the CCJ approved the appeal, in which Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, ousted government member Charrandas Persaud, and social activist Christopher Ram challenged the decision of Guyana’s Court of Appeal to strike down the controversial motion, which was passed by a slim 33 to 32 majority.
The judges suggested that the Appeal Court got it wrong when it stated that the formula for calculating the majority for the motion was dividing the number of assembly members by two, rounding off and adding one. They stated a simple majority, as was taken last year, was all that was required, as the assembly has an odd number of members.
The CCJ further ruled that Article 156 of Guyana’s Constitution, which requires assembly members to indicate if they wish to vote against their party and be removed as a result, was not applicable in a no-confidence vote. The court stated that assembly members were allowed to vote against their party even if it meant them being removed afterward.
The court also rejected arguments from Guyana’s Attorney General Basil Williams and political activist Compton Reid over whether Persaud’s vote should also be invalidated as he had dual citizenship with Canada.
While the court ruled that Persaud had been unlawfully elected to the assembly, it stated that Persaud’s position could have only been challenged in an election petition brought within 28 days of when he was elected in 2015.
Despite its rulings in the case, the CCJ did not order that the election be held by a specific date.
Instead, it advised the Guyanese Government to follow the guidelines under the constitution, which state that an election should be held within three months of the vote.