The United States Embassy yesterday strongly condemned last Friday’s motion in the National Assembly expressing sympathy on the passing of convicted terrorist plotter and former PNCR Member of Parliament, Abdul Kadir, triggering an attempt by the government to limit the damage.
Political watchers had expected a negative reaction from Washington to the motion and yesterday’s statement was one of the strongest condemnations of a branch of government in recent memory.
The statement said: “The U.S. Embassy in Georgetown condemns the resolution by Guyana’s National Assembly, reportedly honoring the life and work of convicted terrorist Abdul Kadir. Kadir was sentenced to life in prison in the United States after being found guilty of plotting a 2007 terrorist attack at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Members of the National Assembly, therefore, chose to honor a man who conspired to kill innocent people from across the United States and around the world. This resolution is an insensitive and thoughtless act, which demonstrates the National Assembly’s disregard for the gravity of Kadir’s actions.
“While speaking at an International Peace Conference recently, U.S. Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch held up Guyana as `a model to the world on religious tolerance and understanding.’ The National Assembly’s resolution of April 26 draws into question that reputation. It also comes on the heels of Guyana’s historic cooperation with the United States on the extradition of an alleged murderer. Members of Parliament have placed this resolution in direct contradiction to the efforts of security cooperation between our two countries.
“With this resolution, honoring a convicted terrorist, members of Guyana’s National Assembly have left a stain on their legacy as representatives of the Guyanese people and on their commitment to the rule of law.
Only government Members of Parliament took part in the proceedings as the opposition is boycotting Parliament. Two APNU+AFC members spoke on the motion: Valerie Adams-Yearwood and Audwin Rutherford. Both hail from Linden where Kadir spent much of his life.
In the aftermath of the stinging rebuke from the US, the government issued a statement trying to play down the intent of the motion and characterising it as standard practice in the National Assembly.
The Guyana Government statement said:
“It is well known that there is a time-honoured convention of the National Assembly to observe, in a standard and solemn form, the work of former Members who are deceased. The observance of this tradition has never been selective, and has included, over the decades, persons of all political parties and persuasions who served in the National Assembly.
“The Government of Guyana regrets the interpretation given to the motion passed in the National Assembly on April 26 on the death of Abdul Kadir, a former Member of Parliament.
“The Government of Guyana asserts that it had no intention of conveying the impression that the motion was designed to honour a former MP convicted of terrorism in another jurisdiction. The motion recognises the member’s service as a parliamentarian.
“The Government of Guyana continues to condemn terrorism in the strongest possible way. The Government of Guyana reaffirms its commitment to continue and intensify the fight against terrorism in any form and is proud of its record to date in this regard.
EU
The European Union (EU) which includes the United Kingdom also expressed surprise at the motion.
In a brief statement on its website, it said “The EU Delegation notes with surprise the
honoring of former MP Abdul Kadir in the National Assembly of Guyana and believes
that eulogizing a person convicted of terrorist acts is inappropriate”.
Over the last few years, a number of European cities have been hit by major terrorist attacks.
The presentation of a motion of this type would fall within the purview of the Leader of the House for Government Business, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and government Chief Whip, Amna Ally.
On Saturday, the opposition PPP had condemned the motion in light of Kadir’s life sentence. Kadir died in a US jail on June 28, 2018 raising questions as to why only now this motion was being brought.
Yesterday’s editorial in the Stabroek News had criticised the sympathy motion. It said in part: ”The motion and its passage have brought the highest law-making forum of the land and a branch of the government into disrepute. The legislature will now be recorded as disembodying this serious terrorism conviction from Mr Kadir’s record merely for the purpose of partisan praise of his service over five years as an opposition MP. What credibility will this Parliament have now in bringing anti-terrorism laws and speaking out against this scourge that has seen a slew of deadly attacks recently in disparate locations as Christchurch, New Zealand; Colombo, Sri Lanka and San Diego, California?
“Even more damaging, the country will be perceived to be soft on those convicted of terrorism-related offences given that its government piloted this motion to recognise its former MP when his conviction should have deterred any such consideration. This can no doubt have repercussions for international relations. Since 9/11 Washington has been particularly sensitive on these matters and there could be fallout since Mr Kadir’s conviction came in a US court in a case constructed by the US government in what was apprehended as a serious plot against a major installation in New York”.
Adams-Yearwood, who moved the motion in Parliament on Friday, told the House that Kadir was “a great man, a stalwart, a bold and courageous man.”
She urged that the National Assembly record its deep regret at his death and pay tribute to his dedicated service to the Parliament of Guyana.
Kadir, a chemical engineer who previously worked in the bauxite industry, was sentenced by a US court to life in 2010 after being convicted, while his co-conspirator, another Guyanese Abdel Nur, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 15 years in 2011.
Prosecutors had said that the bomb plot was hatched in January 2006 by Russell De Freitas, a Guyanese who is a US citizen, and reportedly involved blowing up jet fuel tanks leading to the airport.
Born Michael Seaforth in Buxton, Kadir was convicted of conspiracy to attack a public transportation system; conspiracy to destroy a building by fire or explosive; conspiracy to attack aircraft and aircraft materials; conspiracy to destroy international airport facilities; and conspiracy to attack a mass transportation facility.
