The AFC is encouraging overseas-based Guyanese and others to sign onto the joint parliamentary opposition petition from the citizens of Guyana to the Caricom Heads of Government inviting “consideration on issues in Guyana.”
The PNCR-1G, the AFC and GAP-ROAR launched the petition last month to garner support from Guyanese to submit to the Heads for their consideration issues including freedom of the press, denial of civil liberty and fundamental rights of citizens. The petition can be found at http://allianceforchange. blogspot.com/2008/05/petition-from-citizens-of-guyana-to.html AFC MP David Patterson told Stabroek News that the petition was put online in response to requests from persons in the Diaspora.
PNCR-1G MP Lance Carberry and Patterson said they have not yet started compiling the signatures but the campaign is expected to come to a close on June 15 and would then be sent to Caricom Heads in advance of their annual summit set for July in Antigua and Barbuda.
The PNCR-1G has not uplinked the petition, but Carberry said it was gathering signatures across the regions, paying particular attention to the authenticity of the signatures. He said a number of forms complete with signatures have been returned to the PNCR.
Among the issues raised in the petition are for the removal of the suspension of the licence for CNS TV Channel 6, owned by Justice For All Party Leader Chandra Narine Sharma and the withdrawal of sedition charges against former army officer Oliver Hinckson and his immediate release from custody. Additionally, calls are being made for the urgent enactment of broadcast legislation based on the recommendations contained in the Final Report of the Joint Committee on Radio Monopoly, Non-Partisan Boards and Broadcasting Legislation submitted on December 7, 2001, and adopted by President Bharrat Jagdeo and the late Leader of the Opposition Desmond Hoyte; the licensing of private radio stations; equitable access by parliamentary parties to the state-owned media; the re-constitution of the Integrity Commission in accordance with the Integrity Commission Act No. 20 of 1997; an immediate end to the denial of the fundamental rights of the citizens of Guyana and the immediate enactment of the Freedom of Information Legislation.
The petition urges the Heads to use “Caricom’s collective influence in relation to Guyana’s affairs to facilitate the creation of an environment of peace and social stability, particularly as it relates to the advancement of the issue of Inclusive Governance/Shared Governance in Guyana, as a necessary prerequisite for progress, development and the security of Guyana and its citizens.”
