Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has distanced himself from recent attacks on outgoing Chancellor (ag) Carl Singh and the judiciary in the Guyana Chronicle and condemned the reportage.
“As Prime Minister with responsibility for the state media, I want to say this: While I would not interfere with editorial discretion, I disassociate myself from perceived scurrilous attacks in the Chronicle newspapers against the acting Chancellor of the Judiciary…,” Nagamootoo said, while addressing the opening ceremony of the Police Officers’ Annual Conference yesterday at Eve Leary.
As Nagamootoo spoke, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan appeared to shake his head in agreement.
“In as much as any citizen or any government for that matter may criticise decisions emanating from our courts…our government does not encourage attacks on the legislature and the judiciary. It is not government’s policy or decision to besmirch the character of any judicial officer.
Our government would not condone attempts, however well-meaning or availed, to impugn the integrity of judicial officers,” he added.
He said that since government assumed office 20 months ago, Guyana has enjoyed an image of a peaceful country determined to uphold the rule of law. Nagamootoo, performing the functions of President, said that clean and accountable governance has been restored and pointed to Guyana’s improvement on the recent Transparency International corruption index.
According to Nagamootoo, Guyana has a free and plural press where journalists are not persecuted and the media is not suppressed.
Given this, he said government demands the right to fair comment, replies and constructive and contemporaneous criticisms, however, robust.
A week ago, at the opening of a two-day seminar on the new Civil Procedures Rules, Justice Singh made it clear that he will demit office on February 23, and until then fulfil all his duties. “…Not when the Chronicle says I must leave… My constitutional tenure expires on the 23rd of February, 2017, and until such time unless my appointment is revoked, I intend to exercise my functions as a judge,” he declared.
Justice Singh’s comment was a reference to the Chronicle’s recent reportage on concerns, including those of Attorney-General Basil Williams SC, about him attempting to hear cases in spite of his impending retirement.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran SC have criticised Williams, whom they have accused of interfering with the judiciary.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Williams denied having any part in the attacks on Justice Singh when quizzed by the media. Williams has been accused of targeting Justice Singh because he had begun hearing a number of high profile cases, including the third term appeal case, which if the High Court decision is upheld, can see Jagdeo, a two-term president, running for office again.
“All that I have said in relation to the two cases is that we would appeal the two cases to the CCJ. I am not sure how they confusing Maxwell Edwards and other people’s opinions with mine,” Williams said.
He was making reference to the race baiting appeal case involving Jagdeo and a $446 million judgement granted in favour of Dipcon Engineering Services Limited.
Williams also created the impression that Justice Singh was not upfront with him with regards to when he would proceed on pre-retirement leave. He also said that all he was trying to do in clean up the mess that the Jagdeo administration left the judiciary in. Ramkarran, in his weekend Conversation Tree column, on Sunday accused the APNU+AFC government of intimidatory behaviour towards the judiciary and Justice Singh.
In a blistering commentary, Ramkarran also took aim at the state-owned Guyana Chronicle over the attacks on the judiciary and Justice Singh.
Ramkarran said that neither the Bar nor the Judiciary can afford to be silent on the attacks, which he labelled as “unprecedented in their savagery.”
Later yesterday, when asked if government is seriously contemplating the divesting of the Guyana Chronicle, Nagamootoo said that this is not on the cards presently. “That has not been on the agenda and it is a matter that would best be looked into by the Board. I really don’t see what I have said …on divestment,” he said.
Told that there were reports circulating about government’s plans to divest itself of the state’s newspaper, he insisted he know nothing about this. “I don’t know of any such plans,” he stressed.
