Dear Editor,
If there were any doubt the Government of Guyana fell on December 21st, 2018, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling on June 18th, layered with consequential orders issued on July 12th, 2019, now affirms the Guyana Government was defeated in a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) on that day. The facts are unambiguous, pellucidly clear, unequivocally affirmed by the CCJ. The Constitution of Guyana requires the President and the Cabinet to resign with immediate effect, the President and his government transitioned into a caretaker role, the elections be held within 90 days, by September 18th, in a new timeline which began on June 18th, the day of the CCJ ruling. In addition, the CCJ ruled that a new GECOM chair be appointed urgently in accordance with the Constitution.
As a Caribbean citizen with deep commitment to the success and effectiveness of CARICOM, given the CCJ’s unequivocal judgment, CARICOM’s position is of critical importance. CARICOM has been totally silent so far, nearly nine months after the NCM in Guyana’s Parliament, insisting its commitment is towards democracy in every CARICOM country and, in fact, everywhere in the Commonwealth and in the world. I stood proud as a Caribbean citizen every time, and there were many such instances, when CARICOM firmly and bravely stood on the side of democracy, whenever and wherever democracy was threatened. In view of the CCJ ruling on the NCM in Guyana, where does CARICOM stand?
Mr. CARICOM Secretary General, democracy is threatened in Guyana as the Guyana government refuses to adhere to the constitution and the will of Parliament. When a government deliberately sabotages its own Constitution and disrespects the legal system, as the APNU+AFC government is presently doing in Guyana, democracy is threatened. Will CARICOM maintain silence?
CARICOM in the midst of the clumsy government challenge of the NCM and its validity, insisted the legal avenues must be honoured and, therefore, it would not voice any position on the political dispute in Guyana, one of its founding members. It took this position even though the parliamentary outcome was clear on December 21st, 2018. Whatever doubt the Government attempted to stir has now been dismissed by the CCJ. The CCJ left nothing for interpretation – the Guyana Government is a caretaker government and it must follow the constitution, holding of elections within three months. What is CARICOM waiting on now?
CARICOM’s silence on what is happening in Guyana brings disrepute to this body and will forever impact on its future position on various matters.
The CCJ’s own future is also in jeopardy and CARICOM’s silence is contributing to a perilous future for the CCJ. The CCJ is one of the most important institutions in CARICOM. The strength and integrity of CARICOM is dependent on a strong and respected CCJ. If the CCJ’s rulings and orders are allowed to be ignored by a government, as is happening in Guyana right now, then the CCJ is rendered a toothless poodle. We must not allow this to happen. At the very least, CARICOM must take a stance that the CCJ ruling is sacrosanct, with no room to disrespect the institution. In accordance with Guyana’s constitution which the CCJ affirms, the Guyana Government is a caretaker government and will become an illegal government after September 18th. CARICOM must end its silence and forcefully call on the Government of Guyana to enforce the CCJ rulings, following faithfully the provisions of the Constitution of Guyana.
The time has come for CARICOM to stand by the principles of the Treaty of Chaguaramas and the 2001 Nassau Declaration, and speak out against the erosion of democracy in Guyana, against the deliberate perversions of the Constitution of Guyana. This is not an option for CARICOM, it is duty-bound to stand up on behalf of democracy in Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
