Bharrat Jagdeo no show for court at Whim

About 60 persons protested outside the Whim Magistrate’s Court, Corentyne, Berbice,

Attorney at law Christopher Ram speaks to reporters after yesterday’s hearing.

yesterday, shouting slogans and holding placards. They had responded to a call by the hierarchy of the  ruling PPP/C to turn out in their numbers to show support for embattled former President Bharrat Jagdeo who was expected to appear in the court to answer a criminal charge, yesterday. As was anticipated, Jagdeo who was represented by a battery of lawyers was a no show. Jagdeo had been summoned to appear before the courts to answer criminal charges over racially divisive statements he reportedly made at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant last month. The charge was filed by Attorney-at-Law and Accountant, Christopher Ram. Jagdeo, who served as President from 1999 to 2011, was represented by Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos; Mursalene Bacchus, Perry Gosai and Adrian and Ian Anamayah. In court before Magistrate Carlyn Artiga, the lawyers argued that in the first place Jagdeo was not served with any summons. According to Attorney Bacchus, the charge did not disclose any offence known to law and argued that it should be dismissed. He concluded that a conviction cannot result. Mr. Bacchus in his submission quoted numerous authorities to support his arguments. Another contention of the defence is that, any charge would have been irregular as it was not signed by a Magistrate and no offence was disclosed in the charge.

Some of the protestors outside the court.

Mr. Ram through his Attorney Trenton Lake, presented the case to the Magistrate as to the validity of the information. Ram told the court that attempts to serve the summons proved futile. The Magistrate then ruled that Ram has until March 25 to respond to the defence submissions. Ram later said that it is a shame that legal matters “are brought down to this level in Guyana.” Noting the low level to which the PPP/C would stoop in calling out supporters to assemble and protest outside of the court. Ram told the media that he was now more hopeful that Jagdeo would have to appear in court. “I think we feel even more confident. Jagdeo can run but eventually he will have to submit himself to the court,” he said. The former President is being accused of making statements to the public at large, at a public meeting held at Babu Jaan, Corentyne, Berbice, on March 8, last. The charge reads that the comments “can result in racial or ethnic violence or hatred among the people.” According to the charge, Jagdeo is required to appear personally in the court and plead to the criminal charge. Jagdeo came under fire after his delivery at a Memorial ceremony held for former President and founder-leader of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr. Cheddi Jagan. Jagdeo had said “…Consistently, they shout about racism of the PPP, but they practice racism. They whisper campaigns. In the last elections they went to some of the Afro-Guyanese villages and beat some drums at six o’clock in the morning and say let us throw out these coolie people. “Get up, go out and vote; throw out the coolie people. That’s the kind of language they use. Anybody from our party who uses that sort of language, we will kick them out. This is our approach.” Attorney at Law Adrian Anamayah stated that the attempt to take Jagdeo to court is a puerile attempt to muzzle the former president in what amounted to be an attack on his constitutional right to free speech. If the case goes to trial and Jagdeo is convicted, he could be fined $100,000 and jailed for a maximum of two years.  The Representation of the People Act also prohibits a person convicted of such an offence from being a member of the National Assembly, local democratic organ or the holder of any constitutional or statutory office. The crowd which included Minister of Health Bheri Ramsarran, and other top Government and Regional Officials, got hostile as the court proceedings ended and the lawyers emerged from the building. Most of the crowd was subsequently ushered away from the scene, but some remained. Mr. Ram and his delegation which included Rights Activist, Sherlinger Nagar, were advised to remain in the courtyard for some time before being escorted out of the area by the lawmen.