PNCR Leader Robert Corbin yesterday stuck firmly to his claim that the PPP government has sought legal opinions on how it could prolong its time in office without going through with the general elections which are constitutionally due this year.
He first levelled the claim at the PNCR’s news briefing last week stating that the party had received information since September that President Bharrat Jagdeo had sought several avenues of advice on the matter.
“The PNCR had been acutely aware of the efforts by President Jagdeo to find a way of remaining in office beyond his constitutional mandate. First, he sought three legal opinions on how this objective could be attained. All the legal advice which he has obtained and which the PNCR has seen have advised that this is neither legally nor constitutionally possible. The last opinion advised that unless there is a national emergency there is no way of delaying the general and regional elections,” he had stated.
At a news briefing of his own on Monday, Jagdeo reiterated that he was not interested in a third term and noted that he was the person who signed the two-term limit for presidents into law.
“It was my signature that brought in term limits. I have to respect the Constitution that I have put in place and so I have absolutely no interest in a third term.” He also called on Corbin to produce the proof that he had sought the legal opinions.
But at yesterday’s PNCR briefing Corbin pointed out that he had never said that the President was seeking a third term.
“The point we wanted to make in our press statement was to let the PPP and the government know that we’re aware of what they’re thinking so they might desist from moving in that direction and that I believe, that objective has been achieved because there’s a distinction between running for a third term and extending the life of government unconstitutionally. I never made any mention about the third term in our press statement nor in any statement we made so someone is trying to confuse the issue by talking about a third term,” Corbin said.
He was responding to a question on whether the third term issue had arisen during the meeting he had with President Jagdeo on Tuesday. According to Corbin the matter came up informally and as to whether he was asked about the source of his information revealed last week he responded in the negative.
“I did not care to divulge nor was I asked to divulge the source of my information or the names of those who proffered those opinions, but I think in a letter to the media I hinted that my objective is not to be put on any proving and fending issue. Those who sought legal opinions must be aware that those from whom they sought those opinions will be examining their credibility and I am not in the business of complying with wishes like that.”
According to the PNCR Leader, he had asked Jagdeo years ago to produce the tapes he claimed he has of PNCR leaders and other politicians meeting criminals in Buxton but that was never done. Therefore he is under no obligation to be forthcoming and that in addition it would be unethical for him to do so.
“So if we want to have evidence produced let President Jagdeo produce the tapes that he claims he has for all these years of … leaders of the PNC and other politicians consorting with criminals at Buxton.”
Jagdeo had revealed on Tuesday that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) admitted to him the previous day that it had sought legal advice on him being granted a third term. He said he was very upset that the commission had second-guessed him, since he had made it clear in the past that he was not interested in a third term in office.
Meanwhile, the PNCR yesterday said that at Tuesday’s meeting Corbin and Jagdeo discussed several issues of concern, particularly the functioning of the Linden Town Council and the development of the Linden community. It was arranged at the PNCR leader’s request and was intended to resolve “the continued interference in the management of the council at Linden by the Ministry of Local Government,” a party statement read.
“After frank discussion on the issues it has been agreed that a joint approach by the Leader of the Opposition and the Minister of Local Government will be made to have all outstanding issues resolved. The Minister and the Leader of the Opposition would be in Linden tomorrow, Friday 14, January to meet with all parties concerned,” it stated.
The meeting also addressed outstanding issues relating to the appointment of the constitutional commissions. Among the matters agreed was the early appointment of the Human Rights Commission. Corbin is expected to submit a list shortly from which the Chairman of such a body would be identified.
