Georgetown: Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo said that if government’s fails to respect every aspect of the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which states that elections must be held within three months and that Cabinet should resign, then Guyana is heading for disaster since the international community cannot have faith in doing business with a country who does not respect its own laws.
The PPP General Secretary making reference to a case Guyana has before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in defence of its territorial waters against the spurious claims of Venezuela, Jagdeo said, “If we have a ruling in favour of Guyana at the ICJ then Venezuela can do the same thing. We would have no moral authority to argue that they must respect the decision of the ICJ because here you have a government that is not respecting the CCJ’s ruling.”
The Opposition Leader added, “They are exposing Guyana to danger but this doesn’t affect this corrupt cabal. They don’t care about how we are viewed around the world…Our democratic credentials have now been shattered.”
Be that as it may, the PPP General Secretary disclosed that he met with Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge, recently and informed him that while there is a period of uncertainty given the constitutional crisis Guyana has landed in, the Opposition is unreservedly in support of the government’s case before the ICJ.
And if a letter to that effect is needed, Jagdeo said he is more than willing to ensure this is done.
Meanwhile, Jagdeo said that the nation is looking on as the administration continues to defy the rulings of the court.
Jagdeo reminded that the government has officially stated that it intends to hold Cabinet meetings even though the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled that the No-Confidence Motion was successfully passed on December 21, last. As a result of that ruling, Cabinet is expected to resign with immediate effect.
Jagdeo then stated that the people on trial now will be the international community. The PPP General Secretary questioned whether the members of the international community are prepared to accept the unambiguous judgment of the CCJ which states that elections have to be held in three months, that the government is in caretaker mode, and that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is also required to comply with the holding of elections within the three month timeframe.
The Opposition Leader stressed that it would be incumbent on the international community to alter the manner in which it engages the administration in light of the ruling. He also expects that the international community would urge the government to respect the CCJ’s judgment.
Jagdeo also said that the business community which has released a statement calling for respect for the CCJ ruling must also treat with the government in a similar fashion.
In addition, the PPP General Secretary disclosed that he met with the Secretary General of CARICOM, Irwin LaRocque, and expressed his intention to have the CCJ ruling sent to all the heads of the member states.
The Opposition Leader said that this move is being pursued to ensure that doctored versions of the ruling are not fed to the CARICOM members.
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