Shameful, disgraceful – inadequate words for CARICOM’S silence

Dear Editor,

One of the most frequently asked questions in Guyana today is why CARICOM is missing in action, silent as a door knob. They are not really missing in action, they are jetting around the world, having a good life, not really silent, showing up everywhere talking about democracy everywhere excepting in Guyana, caring nothing whatsoever that democracy is dead in Guyana. The emergence of a new era of dictatorship in Guyana is traumatic to most Guyanese, not just those who support the PPP, but all those Guyanese who remembered the last era of dictatorship under Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte. But CARICOM has always been comfortable with dictatorship in Guyana. During the Burnham and Hoyte dictatorships, CARICOM played an aiding and abetting role, never once raising concerns. The PNC-led rigged elections had become so blatant, no one was defending or denying it anymore, excepting CARICOM by their silence.

As David Granger and APNU+AFC steer Guyana into the hell of dictatorship again, individuals and organizations in Guyana which have typically been independent or even anti-PPP have joined the PPP in denouncing Granger’s and APNU+AFC’s assault on the constitution. The judiciary has ruled that Granger and APNU+AFC are in egregious breach of the constitution. Outside of the obvious legal obligations of the constitution to hold the elections within three months, Granger and APNU+AFC have refused to respect the judiciary. They absolutely have been in contempt of the judiciary, especially the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The CCJ is a CARICOM institution that CARICOM expended hundreds of millions of US dollars and many years to put together. Yet CARICOM sits idly by and allows Granger and APNU+AFC to not only disrespect the CCJ, but to render it a toothless poodle, providing the perfect excuse for most CARICOM countries rejection of the CCJ.

In Guyana, the Private Sector Commission and other private sector bodies have condemned Granger and APNU+AFC for dishonouring the constitution and have urged them to hold elections at the earliest possible opportunity, recognizing that the elections should have been held since before March 21st, 2019. The Bar Association, religious umbrella groups, trade unions, independent activists and political parties outside APNU+AFC have come out in condemnation, urging David Granger to issue the proclamations and ensure elections are held the earliest possible date.
Internationally, countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, European Union countries, the Commonwealth, the OAS and even congressional representatives in the USA have urged Granger and APNU+AFC to immediately abandon the dictatorial path and restore democracy. Neither these international nor local stakeholders appear to motivate Granger and APNU+AFC, as they remain steadfast in solidifying their dictatorial posture.

While local and international stakeholders are flexing their muscles in an effort to ensure Guyana returns to its fledgling democracy, CARICOM has been silent, stone-faced silent. It is shameful, disgraceful and, in fact, words are inadequate to describe CARICOM’s silence as Granger and APNU+AFC wilfully violate and throw the constitution aside. The headquarters of CARICOM sits in Guyana; Guyana was burdened with the cost of constructing the very comfortable, luxurious accommodation for CARICOM. Indeed, it was under a Bharrat Jagdeo-led PPP Government, during those years when Guyana was strengthening and expanding its democratic credentials that funded the construction of the CARICOM headquarters. CARICOM’s most constructive impact on the global stage was when the PPP was steering Guyana into one of the most open, free and democratic developing countries, creating a constitution with the most expansive opportunities for civil society to share governance.

But it has not evaded most Guyanese that CARICOM’s DNA is inherently embedded in the PNC. CARICOM has always been more comfortable with the PNC, only sharing a dispassionate, convenient relationship with the PPP when the PPP was in government. CARICOM was totally silent when the PPP was struggling against a brutal dictatorship under the PNC. But CARICOM became vocal in political matters in Guyana when the PPP was in office. When CARICOM helped negotiate the Herdmanston Accord, it was not to help Guyana to move forward, it was on behalf of the PNC which had resoundingly lost an election that CARICOM itself joined in pronouncing as totally free and fair. At that time, CARICOM did not use its influence to get the PNC to accept defeat, rather they intervened to get the undisputed winner of the elections to concede half of their term, with new elections scheduled more than 2 years before the end of the 5-year term.

It is shameful that CARICOM was begging the UN to intervene to stop certain nations interfering with Venezuela’s sovereignty, but said not a word at the UN or here in Guyana about the egregious violations of the constitution in Guyana. Our own sovereignty is in jeopardy in Guyana, but CARICOM ignores it totally and blabber about the sovereignty in Venezuela. Does CARICOM not recognize it has no moral authority to speak up against dictatorship or interference against any country’s sovereignty when it totally allows dictatorship to flourish right where it sits?

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy