What about my constitutional rights?

Apr 25, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor:
I am using this medium to highlight the total disdain this government and its representatives demonstrate when it comes to the constitutional rights of the populace.
I have sent an application since December 2011 to the Guyana High Commission, London, to officially inform them of my desire to renounce my Guyanese citizenship. I paid the required £100 and as of today I am still awaiting a reply. I called the High Commission on multiple occasions including today (April 24) and I spoke to a Mrs. Singh. I was advised that the reason for the delay is because it is a requirement that I state why I wish to renounce my citizenship.
As far as I am aware, renunciation of Guyanese citizenship is recognized under the Guyana Citizenship Act, provided that the individual who is renouncing Guyanese citizenship “is or is about to become” a citizen of another country, and that Guyana is not engaged in war at the time of renunciation (Guyana 17 Dec. 1998, Para. 10(1) (a)-(b)).
Clearly this is another attempt by those in authority to disregard my constitutional rights since I had sent both my British and Guyanese passports to the High Commission when I made my application.
I was following the recent fiasco of Rohee being upset because of his denial to speak in parliament. Arguments that the minister used were that it is his constitutional rights as an elected representative to speak in parliament. What about my constitutional rights? What about the constitutional rights of the many Guyanese who suffer and are suffering under this elected dictatorship?
I have also been following the recent budget debates and the lots of moaning by the government about the Guyana Constitution and their right to prepare and present the budget. How convenient it was to speak of the Constitution when it was in their interest, but disregard it otherwise?
What about the tax payers’ rights to determine how and where their monies are spent? What about the right to free speech? Isn’t the allocation of radio licences to government friends and families an attempt to breach the right of Guyanese as a whole to free speech? Who are these inept people who run this land and from whence did they come?
It is because of this disrespect for my rights and the blatant disregard shown by this government towards the constitutional rights of the citizens that I choose to renounce my citizenship. To me, this is just symbolic, since I will get no material gains or any advantage to my professional or personal life by renouncing my citizenship.
May they read this letter and be forewarned that I will not be going away. I will be on their metaphorical backs like a rash.
Dr. Mark Devonish

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