All the Guyanese intellectuals wherever they are in this world who supported the PNC in its evolution and who still embrace the PNC, have to be embarrassed at the illogical utterance attributed to the PNC leader and President of the country, David Granger.
The President said he would like the CCJ to explain how he acted unconstitutionally in appointing the GECOM Chairman (I hope at the time of writing; Thursday afternoon, Patterson would have resigned). The level of absurdity in that statement is beyond belief. To my mind, it disqualifies Granger from being the PNC leader and President.
A litigant hires a lawyer. The judge makes a ruling, which is pronounced in court followed by a written decision. The lawyer explains to the litigant why the judge arrived at his decision. The CCJ will not make contact with President Granger. It is improper for them to do so; it will never happen in a court of law.
The government has an Attorney-General. Granger has to seek an explanation why the CCJ ruled against the President. Here are very brief notes why the President’s appointment of Mr. Patterson as GECOM Chairman fell down. The CCJ’s reasons are in the public domain. President Granger unilaterally appointed Patterson without meaningful consultation with the Opposition Leader. Article 161 does not allow the President to choose a GECOM chairman on his own because the selection has to be situated in the Carter Formula.
The Carter Formula is synonymous with consultation. President and Opposition Leader must sit down and the President can say; “No, I don’t want those five persons, they haven’t got integrity.” The Opposition Leader will say; “Look, I’ve got another name, this gentleman is first class, look at his curriculum vitae.” The President then says; “Nah, I know he is a crook, I’ve got information on him”.
The President then tells the Opposition Leader, “here is my choice; he is top class; look at his service worldwide.” The Opposition Leader then agrees. The GECOM Chairman is then chosen through consultation. This did not happen. Even the President’s partner from the other side in government, the AFC, told the nation they were not approached on the name of Justice Patterson.
Granger’s Attorney-General has to inform him ASAP that the next GECOM chairman must be selected via a consultation process between the two men. There cannot be a unilateral movement. What about this, doesn’t Granger understand?
Granger’s outrageousness was replicated by Finance Minister Jordan. Jordan likes to threaten libel when you write about him. But now he opens himself to criticism. He wants citizens to “be on the ready…to picket for house-to-house registration”. That is for GECOM to decide when it gets a new chairman; hopefully in a few days.
Where was Jordan’s voice when the government lost a non-confidence vote (NCV) and GECOM did not start preparation for an election, an omission one of the CCJ’s judges pointed to? He should be denounced for such a call, and this columnist is denouncing him. I think after his suspicious advocacy, citizens of Guyana should put his intentions under the microscope.
Finally, the third expression of outrageousness. Joe Harmon classified Moses Nagamootoo as the best Prime Minister this country has had for the past 27 years. He said Nagamootoo is royalty. Something seems to be consuming rational thinking within APNU+AFC and it is occurring in cruel fashion. First, the President cannot comprehend a simple court decision. Then Winston Jordan is running around saying incredible things. Now “Lil Joe” or “Joe Shanlin” thinks Moses Nagamootoo is royalty.
The cricket world cup is now going on. The women’s football world cup is now taking place. I would give anything to know who “Lil Joe” is picking to win in both tournaments. I would guess that since he has been to China and was photographed posing off with Chinese officials in an airplane, he will choose China to win the ladies’ world cup. When it comes to cricket, my bet is that he favours Afghanistan.
Given the wholly outrageous expressions by these APNU+AFC leaders, one is anxious to know who will be the one to follow Granger, Jordan and Harmon. My bet is that it will be the man who refers to himself as “Nagga.” Nagga said that 18-year-old Guyanese will vex if they don’t get to register. He should go to Whim and tell the village that.