Corbin defends Deborah Backer

Oct 26, 2009 News

…says PPP, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh should be ashamed

Leader of the Peoples National Congress Reform, Robert Corbin, is of the opinion that the Peoples Progressive Party and particularly Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, should be ashamed by the move made during the most recent sitting of the National Assembly to have Deborah Backer referred to the Committee of Privileges to be found in contempt.

Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh

He said that Backer’s statement, which PPP wants to deem as offensive, was embedded in the fact that the Government selectively adheres to treaties and conventions signed.
According to Corbin, there is credible evidence of torture by ranks of the Guyana Defence Force when Guyana is a signatory to International Convention against torture.
The ranks of the Guyana Defence Force are being sent to Trinidad and Tobago as part of a treaty arrangement between CARICOM members to ensure regional security.
According to Corbin, it was in that context that Backer made her statement as it relates to arrangements being put in place to ensure that ranks implicated in torture allegations are not sent as ambassadors of Guyana.
He said that were Backer’s comments deemed offensive and are found to be in contempt by the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges, then the entire PPP/C parliamentarians need to be referred to that committee for verbal infringes they have made in the past.
He stated that the action by the ruling party was ludicrous and that the PNCR vigorously opposed the strategy.
At last Thursday’s sitting of the National Assembly, Dr. Singh moved that Shadow Home Affairs Minister, Backer, be held in contempt of the National Assembly.
He applied to the Speaker of the House to refer the matter to the Committee of Privileges.
Dr. Singh called on the House to deem some remarks made by Backer to be offensive and condemned.
At a previous sitting of the National Assembly, during the debate on a motion to have members of the Joint Services deployed to Trinidad and Tobago for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government conference, Backer said that the People’s National Congress was worried that members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) would go to the Twin-island Republic to “torture people.”
Backer reminded the gathering of the GDF’s alleged involvement in the extra judicial killings of more than 200 Guyanese men.

Deborah Backer

Even though Baker said that the PNCR “unhesitantly” agreed with the motion, she made mention of the Constitution, in which is contained a convention against torture.
Baker added that the government conveniently bring up and dismiss treaties, adding that a stop should be put to such behaviours.
Singh told the National Assembly that Backer explicitly said, “We (PNC) are worried that they (GDF) would go and torture.”
Dr. Singh said that the People’s Progressive Party unanimously disapproves and disassociates itself from the offensive statement. He asked that Baker be held in contempt.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, told the gathering that he was unable to contact Backer for a response.
However, he had determined that there was a finding prima facie case made out against Backer and as such referred the matter to the Committee of Privileges.
The Shadow Minister was not present at the sitting, as the PNC decided to boycott the National Assembly.