The Private Sector Commission (PSC) yesterday said it will “continue to call a spade a spade” and insist on adherence to the constitution and observance of good governance.
It made the declaration in a statement that followed the release of internal correspondence, where one of its members criticised the organisation’s stance on the passage of the motion of no-confidence against the government on December 21st, 2018.
On February 4th, the PSC had issued a statement in which it voiced concern over public statements by APNU+AFC administration representatives that it said denied the express ruling of acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire on the validity of the no-confidence motion.
In the February 4th statement, the PSC also took aim at government and its representatives for claiming that “until the matter is concluded at the highest court of appeal the status quo remains and the business of government continues as usual.”
A letter by PSC member Kit Nascimento reinforcing the PSC’s position was subsequently published in the Stabroek News.
This PSC statement and the Nascimento letter generated opposition from one member. The internal PSC correspondence was published in sections of the press last week and identified Komal Singh as being the concerned party.
The PSC yesterday noted the disclosure in the media of the internal correspondence of the Commission with what it said was the obvious intention of causing public mischief.
It added that the PSC’s Council met on Friday to consider the matter and unanimously agreed that it is “the duty and responsibility of the Commission to represent, not only the interest of the business community, but the overall interest of the country and its people in addressing matters of public concern and importance without fear from or favour to any political party, whether in or out of government.”
It further said the PSC recognises and will defend the democratic right of any of its individual members to express their views publicly, as they deem fit, on any matter of their choosing and will defend their right to do so.
The history of the PSC, it added, will show that it has always spoken out in defence of democracy, as an advocate for the respect of the Constitution, for compliance with the rule of law and for the stability of our country. It said it will continue to do so.
“The Private Sector Commission will continue to speak openly, frankly and truthfully on any and all matters which impact upon the economic development, good governance and political stability of our country,” it noted.
“The PSC will continue to call a spade a spade. As a national institution, the PSC must stand by the Constitution, law and order and good governance. The PSC’s status and values are derived from its responsibility to take the lead and not be distracted by persons or organisations that set out to achieve the opposite to our values,” it said, while noting that history must record that the organisation stood for the correct principles of law and order and compliance with the Constitution. “The PSC stands strong and united in its determination to continue advocating for the creation of a conducive and enabling business environment.”
The statement also noted that Nascimento has been singled out and targeted for the views he expressed in a letter published in his letter in defence of the Commission. It said the PSC fully endorses the facts laid out in Nascimento’s letter and that “the PSC’s mandate is to insist on adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law by all of the political parties.”
