Annette Ferguson breaches election laws to bribe servicemen

…knew what she was doing was improper, unlawful – Datadin

Minister with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson is guilty of breaching the Representation of the People’s Act – the laws that govern elections in Guyana – when she days ago promised land and house lots to members of the Joint Services just days before the servicemen and women cast their ballots for the 2020 General Elections.

A select group of members of the Joint Services who voted last week ahead of the general population were met with by Minister Ferguson, who according to one prominent Attorney, used the occasion to knowingly breach the law.
In a clip making the rounds on social media, Minister Ferguson could be heard clearly inducing the servicemen and women at a meeting.
The Minister is heard saying, if re-elected to office and she is allowed to retain her portfolio as Minister then the ranks could be assured of house lots.
On Tuesday Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin in a brief interview with this publication pointed out to this newspaper that under the Representation of the Peoples’ Act Section 131, the Minister is guilty of the corrupt practice of bribery.

Under that statute, every person who directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf “gives or agrees to give; or lends or agrees to lend; or offers or promises; or promises to procure or promises to endeavour to procure any money or valuable consideration to or for any elector, or to or for any other person, in order to induce any elector to vote or to refrain from voting” is guilty of the corrupt act of bribery.
The attorney noted that the issue has to be looked at in context and pointed to the Minister’s stated request for the individuals present in the room at the time to turn off their cell phones.

According to Datadin, the Minister clearly knew what she was about to do was improper.
“Why would she ask them to turn off their cell phones, clearly she was well aware that what she was going to do was improper.”
He said members of the Joint Services cannot be treated in the same way and that while it must be realised that politicians will make promises, these must be done out in the open.
“They should be done clear and out in the open,” Datadin posited and suggested that a politician would not be meeting individuals on the streets and promising to reduce only their taxes.
The attorney was adamant that by meeting with a select group of servicemen and demanding that they turn off their cell phones from the inception, the Minister wanted the affair to be kept secret and, in the context, knew that it was improper and unlawful.
He said in the circumstance of just meeting with a selected few persons in a room, asking them to take off their cell phones, those persons had been identified for special treatment and that the Minister knew what she was doing was not only wrong but unlawful.
Such promises, he said, must be made out in the open and asked why the party did not choose to have its commitment to the members of the Joint Services be made part of the election manifesto for all to see.
“She knew it was improper…why not say it in the open,” he said

          GUYANA TIMES