–Dr. Hinds warns that sanctions could have damaging effects on the country
By Svetlana Marshall
Political Scientist, Dr. David Hinds said though the decision of the United States (US) Government to sanction Guyana comes as no surprise, it can be viewed as an attempt to influence the outcome of the latest elections case filed in the High Court, which challenges the decision of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to declare the results of the General and Regional Elections based on data generated during the National Recount.
“The move was not unexpected. The Western countries have long made clear their preference for one contestant in the election. They have since then used their considerable influence including the threat of sanctions to force that outcome. That desired outcome has been thwarted by the prolonged court battles. With the beginning of a new round of court battles, the recent move by the US and the other Western interests, runs the risk of being viewed as intending to influence the outcome of the court cases,” Dr. Hinds told Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday.
Even as the Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George-Wiltshire was presiding over a Case Management Conference in a case brought by registered voter Misenga Jones against the Elections Commission and others, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced that visa restrictions will be placed on individuals the US believes are “complicit in undermining democracy” in Guyana. The announcement was made in an attempt to force the David Granger Administration out of Office notwithstanding the fact that results of the General and Regional Elections has not been declared by GECOM to date.
Article 92 of the Constitution of Guyana states that: “a person assuming the office of the President in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution shall, unless his office sooner become vacant under Article 178, continue in office until the person elected to the office of the President at the next election held under Article 91 assumes office.”
Dr. Hinds said resort to the Court by Guyanese who participated in the March Elections ought not be viewed as an attempt to undermine democracy in Guyana, as he brought attention to the fact that since March, 2020 the electoral process as be the subject of court actions filed by both the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the ruling A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC).
“It is difficult to describe what has transpired since March 2 as “undermining democracy” since both major contestants have resorted to the court to argue the legal and constitutional merit of their respective cases. There is nothing undemocratic about Judicial Review. As far as GECOM officials are concerned, they have also been guided by the outcome of the court cases,” the Political Scientist told this newspaper. He said the “relatively extreme” action by the US and other Western countries threatening additional sanctions are aimed at something larger than the mere election.
Questioned whether the restriction would have significant impact on the country, Dr. Hinds responded in the affirmative, explaining that for a small country like Guyana it is not an insignificant development. The rippling effect, he posited, could be far reaching.
“Guyana has been there before. And if that history is anything to go by, the consequences could be grave,” the Political Scientist said as he turned back the pages of history.
“When in 1953 the British landed troops in Guyana to defend democracy, the effect was the split of the nationalist movement and the consolidation of ethnic politics which continues to blithe Guyana to this day. Second, when the US and Britain intervened in the early 1960s to again protect and promote democracy, it chose one party over the other. The consequence: a three-year ethnic Civil War and almost three decades of authoritarian rule,” Dr. Hinds pointed out.
But the Political Scientist said notwithstanding the impositions, there is no reason for President David Granger to concede, as he pointed to the fact that the Elections Commission, chaired by Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, has not declared the results of the Elections. “If the revocation of the visas is to get Mr Granger to concede defeat then it may have missed the mark. What is he going to concede? There is no lawful declared result? If anything, the action will likely make the coalition look like the victim of external intervention. That would then likely incense their supporters,” Dr. Hinds reasoned.
Instead of attempting to force President Granger out of Office, he submitted that the ABCE Countries should put pressure on the leaders of both the APNU+AFC and PPP/C to negotiate a just and reasonable settlement to a political impasse in the interest of all political sides. “Any partisan outcome may lead to developments that could consume all of Guyana,” he warned.
When asked what advice he would give the people of Guyana in light of the recent developments, Dr. Hinds said there is not much advice to offer. “The matter has been taken out of their hands. It is now in the hands of forces outside of their grasp. They are fast becoming onlookers as their fate is being determined,” he told Guyana Chronicle.
Meanwhile, in an interview with another news outlet, APNU+AFC Executive Member Aubrey Norton opined that many Guyanese would prefer to have their US visas revoked than to live under a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.
“The People’s Progressive Party extra judicially killed many Guyanese; there can be no worse sanction in this country than living under a PPP influenced and informed by Bharrat Jagdeo…The United States must know that the Bharrat Jagdeo regime transformed Guyana into a narco state; they must know that they (the PPP) refused to do a money laundering act because they were supportive of money laundering. The reports must have shown the level of trafficking in people that occurred under the People’s Progressive Party,” Norton said.
Norton, who is also a Political Scientist, said there appears to be a collusion to put “a criminal cabal” back into power, but the APNU+AFC will remain focus. He said the 33-day National Recount, which was conducted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre unearthed massive irregularities and cases of voter impersonation – dead and migrant voters, particularly in PPP/C stronghold areas.
The Political Scientist said while the APNU+AFC does not believe that the revocation of visas is a step in the right direction, its primary interest is protecting the rights of all Guyanese. “We do not believe that putting visa restriction on us is right but it is their right, it is their visa. Our commitment is to Guyana not a visa to the United States of America. We have 83,000 square miles that we can travel, work and development. As for me, I am comfortable in my dear land of Guyana,” Norton said. He said the APNU+AFC has always demonstrated a willingness to put Guyana first, while pointing to the fact that in 2019 three Government Ministers relinquished their foreign citizenship in their quest to serve Guyana. Among them was APNU+AFC Executive Joseph Harmon, who relinquished his US citizenship. APNU+AFC, he iterated, will continue to put the interest of the people of Guyana first.
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_e-paper_7-16-2020