Illegal actions of gov’t must attract sanctions

Dear Editor,

I refer to the Parliamentary vote of no-confidence in the APNU+AFC Government since 21 December 2018, and the ruling of the CCJ, affirming the validity of the no-confidence vote on June 18 2019, and calling on President David Granger to call national elections in keeping with the Constitution and the rule of law. The CCJ’s call was also directed at GECOM and its secretariat, to obey the Constitution and the rule of law, and noting that GECOM, a full time body, with perhaps a bloated staff, is required to be in a state of readiness to conduct election within 90 days.

These wilful and brazen violations of the Constitution and the rule of law, by essentially a PNC government, move Guyana away from the democratic norms, and closer to dictatorship with the confident reliance on the police, the army, the public service, partisan GECOM staff for its continued usurpation of power, as was the case of the dictatorship of PNC government from 1968 to 1992. History seems to be repeating itself in 2018 – 2020 by the PNC dominated government.

The vast majority of the population of Guyana applaud and are grateful to the many voices of individuals, organisations, and the international community condemning the constitutional and rule-of-law violations, principally to hold on to power unconstitutionally and illegally. These illegal actions of the Government, the President, Vice Presidents, Ministers, Government Members of the National Assembly, some GECOM Commissioners, and GECOM senior staff, and heads of the Public Service Ministries must be condemned and sanctioned. Inter-national sanctions must be applied on these groups in the interest of democracy in Guyana. The international community has options as was done in relation to some other countries. Such options include but are not limited to:

1. Overseas travel restriction;
2. Suspension of travel visas,
3. whether ordinary or diplomatic;
4. Revocation of visas; and
5. Freezing of assets overseas.

The majority in Guyana feel confident that such actions by North American and European countries will help to restore and protect democratic norms of obedience to the Constitution of Guyana and the rule of law.

Yours faithfully,

Joshua Singh