The Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) founded by Lenox Shuman, the former toshao of St Cuthbert’s Mission and former deputy chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), will be launched on Saturday at the Georgetown Club.
Shuman had announced earlier that the launch was going to be held at the Umana Yana but then said he was informed that the Umana Yana had been otherwise booked.
“We booked it and they retracted our booking. They then placed a forum on the same day at the Umana Yana for oil and gas,” he said.
Stabroek News understands that the administration of the Umana Yana falls under the Ministry of Social Cohesion which is responsible for sport, youth and culture. Efforts to contact any senior official on the matter yesterday were unsuccessful.
Asked about reports that he holds dual citizenship in both Guyana and Canada where he resides and that he will not be eligible to contest for a seat in Parliament and that he does not meet the residency requirement to vie for the post of president, Shuman said, “Yes. I have heard the same thing.”
Asked again whether he has dual citizenship, Shuman said, “All the answer you desire in that regard will be provided at the launch. All at the launch.”
Shuman last year threw out the idea of the formation of a political party which would draw its support from indigenous peoples to create a balance of power in the current political landscape. The objective of the party, he said, is now broad-based and is appealing to the national community.
He had intended to launch the party at the end of last year’s Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month which is observed in September. That launch date was postponed, Shuman had said because the supporters of the party had asked for its postponement to put the party’s structure in place.
