Citizens picket Chief Justice over ‘failing’ judicial system

Sep 06, 2014 News

Citizens picketing outside the High Court yesterday morning

City Mayor Hamilton Green yesterday led a picketing exercise outside of the Office of Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang, at the High Court building, over what he called a failure of the Justice system with the nation plunging into that of a Police State.

Green told reporters that “we have clear evidence that the justice system is failing us…it is both lame if not dead.”

According to the Mayor, “when a society has that condition we are in the first stage to anarchy, confusion and the dislocation of the principles of democracy and decency.”

He outlined that several matters were taken to the court, and what is being observed are delays and postponements so that the situation at City Hall remains, “where you have someone who we think is clearly a case for certain medical attention.”

Green was making reference to the current Town Clerk, Carol Sooba.

According to Green, the Town Clerk is unqualified and despite an approach to the court; she has ignored the decision of the majority.

He said that at the last election held, 73 per cent of the people voted for a City Council made up of, primarily Peoples National Congress representatives, but government has never allowed them to run the council.

Green said that what instead has been happening is that Government has put on a very aggressive public relations campaign seeking to fool the citizens and people of the country as a whole.

He lamented too that for the past three years government has imposed “an unqualified, disrespectful woman who is allowed to do as she cares.”

The Mayor said, that what Sooba has been doing is unpardonable and unbelievable “and this seems to be accommodated by evidence we are moving towards a police state.”

The Mayor drew reference to the fact that last week the Council took to the Crime Chief, clear evidence that a person purporting to be Sooba’s bodyguard broke into City Hall and destroyed its property without authorization.

According to Green, a report was lodged with the Criminal Investigations Department of the Guyana Police Force.

A rank was dispatched to investigate, but according to Green, the Town Clerk prevented the rank from accessing the office.

He lamented further that when Sooba and her bodyguard emerged, “she gave her cell phone to the corporal and said speak to your superior.”

According to Green, the corporal informed him that he was in receipt of orders to abort the investigation and return to Brickdam Police Station.

“What kind of justice system we have in this country,” asked the City Mayor.

Green alleged that one of the persons recruited by the Town Clerk was Travis McDougal who has since been charged for the murder of a businessman.

According to Green, the young man was observed in the City Hall compound in the company of Shawn Hinds, who is employed by Sooba as a bodyguard.

Green said that all of this information was reported to the police but nothing has happened, “so we are left with a situation here, where the police seem to be the anchor of an undemocratic state and we are drifting towards a police state, the worst state that a people can reach.”

He told reporters that the Council is exploring its options as it relates to future action and further, they will be seeking the assistance of the international community.

“If the government fails to move we will have to discuss it and take other action,” Green said.

He said it is his belief that government is tempting the Council to take extreme measures, “which they hope would benefit them in an election season.”