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More ill-advised comments

Jan 30, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
What was President Jagdeo thinking when, on January 19, 2009, he issued an ultimatum for Members of Parliament (MPs) to declare their assets to the Integrity Commission within two weeks? According to the President, should MPs not comply with his demand they will have to face the court.
The President, apparently, made this demand after the opposition called for the assets of senior government functionaries, including Ministers, to be scrutinized. This call by the opposition came after the President ordered that the assets of Customs officers be scrutinized and that the report of the findings by laid in the National Assembly. As if in direct retaliation to the opposition, the President issued the ultimatum for MPs.
However, after Leader of the Opposition, Robert Corbin rebuffed the demand by the President, advised MPs to disregard the President’s ultimatum, and challenged the existence of the Integrity Commission, the President began to retract his position.  Further, it appears as though Mr. Jagdeo became quite erratic as members of civil society weighed in on whether he has the authority to make such demand.
As a result of these developments we see the President, on Monday January 26, 2009, making a statement that he will grant a two-week extension deadline for Members of Parliament to declare their assets to the Integrity Commission. At the same time he has indicated that he ordered Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Mr. Roger Luncheon, to commence consultation aimed at resuscitating the Integrity Commission.
So, did the President not know that the Integrity Commission was not duly constituted when he issued his demand? Or was he attempting to bully MPs to acknowledge, and subscribe to an illegal body in retaliation to the opposition’s counter request?
In relation to the composition of the commission, the President claimed that though the then Chairman of the Commission, Reverend Randolph George had submitted his resignation in 2006, he, Mr. Jagdeo, did not accept it because he suspects the Reverend was bullied into that position. What utter rubbish!
Two years since the Reverend indicated, in writing, his unwillingness to serve, no effort was made to persuade him to withdraw his resignation, since bullying was suspected. Or why was the vacancy not filled by some other qualified candidate? Why is the President insisting that Rev. George was bullied into resigning?
Isn’t this spiritually guided man capable of making his own informed decision? Why is the President intimating that this man of God is so weak as to be bullied by other men? Clearly, this comment has projected the Reverend as a weak leader, who can be easily bullied. As such the President should, without more delay, accept the man’s resignation. If it is a Reverend the President wants to head the Integrity Commission, Guyana has no shortage of such persons in this field, so ready replacement is available.
The President also commented that he suspects that some Members of Parliament have some things to hide. This is another ill-advised comment which is likely to augment further fallout between the executive and the legislative, a situation likely to exacerbate the mistrust the President stated is affecting political co-operation among parties.
Lurlene Nestor

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