The Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) yesterday said it has lost confidence in its candidate for the Region Eight council, Jimmy James and is seeking to replace him and it also accused the GECOM Secretariat of frustrating the proposed change.
The statement yesterday from party leader Lenox Shuman came two days after James told Stabroek News that LJP officials were lying about his health. James said that he was fit and prepared to take up his seat on the Potaro-Siparuni council where he would have been able to cast the deciding vote on who would be the Chair.
James’ intention to cast his vote in favour of the APNU+AFC coalition because it garnered the most votes in the region seems to have resulted in the LJP trying to have him replaced. The LJP has embarked on a close working relationship with the PPP/C government and the replacement of James seems intended for Shuman’s party to support the ruling party for the chairmanship. Last year, PPP/C members of parliament voted for Shuman to become the Deputy Speaker of the House even though his party will control only one seat for around 30 months.
Saying that he wished to clear up “misunderstandings” surrounding the Region 8 Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Shuman yesterday said that in September of 2020, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) requested that the LJP “resubmit” its candidates for Region 8 to sit on the RDC. It is unclear why this request was made. Contained on that list were James as the primary candidate and Claris Francisco as alternate, both LJP candidates on the Regional List of Candidates, District 8.
Shuman said that shortly thereafter, Paramakatoi, where James is from, was hit by the Coronavirus taking the life of one of its loyal and ardent supporters and infecting a large section of the population including James. Shuman said that it was communicated to the LJP that the Regional Democratic Council would be convened and that the party’s candidate needed to be ready at which point James was indisposed as he was still stricken by COVID. James was however present in the city for another convening of the council only for the Regional Executive Officer Mitzi Campbell to say that the ceremony could not be held because two persons were unwell.
Shuman said that cognizant of the effects on the healthiest of individuals, the LJP submitted a change of candidate request to GECOM replacing James with Francisco.
“Several attempts were made to rectify the issue by the way of telephone calls, emails and standard mail with Ms (Roxanne) Myers (Deputy Chief Election Officer [DCEO]) in the absence of the CEO, through October, November, December and now January. All attempts of the LJP to address this issue were rebutted by the DCEO”, Shuman said.
Shuman added: “Mr James who has the respect of the LJP’s executive no longer enjoys the confidence of the LJP and by his own admission is not aligned to the LJP, is no longer willing to serve in the capacity as an LJP representative and is aligned to the PNC”.
James in his interview with Stabroek News did not say that he was no longer aligned with the LJP. He said it was his intention to vote for APNU+AFC as it had the largest block of votes in the region.
Shuman added that an overhaul of the “politically aligned GECOM Secretariat is much needed and we call on Madam Chair and the Commission to swiftly execute said purge and press for the much needed electoral reform as recommended by the various rulings through the elections fiasco”.
“A bunch of lies” was how James on Monday described his party’s claim that he was unwell and that he no longer wanted to take up his seat on the Region Eight council.
In an interview with Stabroek News by phone from Paramakatoi, James insisted that he will take up his seat on the Potaro-Siparuni council as that is what the people have voted for.
Deteriorating
LJP spokesman John Flores told the last Sunday Stabroek that the party had submitted new names to GECOM after James indicated that he no longer wished to represent it on the council due to health concerns. Flores said on Saturday that the move to replace James, at his own his request, was due to his deteriorating health. These claims by Flores have now been refuted by James.
“The people voted for me and want me to represent them on the council. You want them to skin me alive if I give up the seat,” James said on Monday as he responded to the claims of his party.
He told Stabroek News that he has already indicated to his party he will not be removed as the will of the people must be respected. James said he made his position clear when he visited Georgetown for the aborted swearing in of Region Eight councillors back in November.
“I told them. I told them that I will not be moved because they were telling me I must step aside from the council. But I campaigned and the people know me well so they voted for me,” he said as he recalled informing the party he will not be a part of their “quid pro quo” agreement.
“They were saying give the PPP/C the Chairman and they will give me the Vice Chairman… but the whole meeting was called off because two persons were sick…I am not fighting for any position but I am saying that the will of the people must be respected,” he declared.
James, 70, a pensioner and farmer told Stabroek News that he is in good health and very active in his community.
“I am not ill. I am very fit at 70. I walk up and down the mountain to visit my farm and go home. I visit all the communities in this sub district area in the North Pakaraimas. I don’t know why they are saying that I am ill,” he said.
James told Stabroek News that he decided to re-enter the political arena and campaign with the LJP during the 2020 General and Regional Elections after he was concerned that the rights of indigenous people are not fully represented.
He noted that throughout his career as a community activist which spans almost four decades he has represented many of his fellow indigenous brothers and sisters and achieved success. He explained that throughout his career he also served on many boards and was responsible for helping at least 53 villages get their land titles.
James pointed out that he remains an active member on the North Pakaraimas Development Council and it is through his work over the years that people have gained confidence in him.
