Latest update February 6th, 2025 7:27 AM
Guyana must move away from ‘dog eat dog’ political culture- President Granger
-as Prerogative of Mercy Advisory Council sworn in
By Jarryl Bryan
Yesterday saw the members of the Prerogative of Mercy Advisory Council taking their Oaths of Office. In the wake of the swearing in ceremony, President David Granger also made an impassioned appeal for persons to forsake the ‘dog eat dog’ culture that has characterised Guyana’s politics for years.
The Committee, with Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams and President David Granger.
The Council members, who took the oath before the President at the Ministry of the Presidency, are Dr. Carl Hanoman, Justice Duke Pollard, former Minister of Information, Mrs. Yvonne Harewood-Benn, Ms. Merle Mendonca and Justice James Patterson.
Granger charged them to be fearless in executing their duties, but also to be prepared to accept criticism. He thanked them for taking on the responsibilities and also expressed hope that in the future, younger persons would follow in their stead.
UnderArticle 188. (1), A of the Constitution of Guyana, the President has the power to grant any person concerned in, or convicted of, any offence under the Laws of Guyana, a pardon, either free or subject to lawful condition.
The President may also grant to any person a respite, either indefinite, or for a specified period, of the execution of any punishment imposed on that person for such an office.
He is also empowered to substitute a less severe form of punishment for any punishment imposed on any person for such an offence or remit the whole or part of any punishment imposed on any person for such an offence or of any penalty or forfeiture otherwise due to the State on account of such an offence.
Granger said that he was indeed not an impulsive President. While he did not specifically allude to local businessman Brian Tiwarie, this is an accusation that the businessman recently levelled against Granger because the President rescinded his ‘honorific’ appointment.
Querying what kind of country would be left if the current culture continued, Granger stated that the population must also look at the young people and be compassionate and helpful to those who find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
“We need to transform our political culture from this ‘dog eat dog’ mind-set that some people seem to have adopted over the years,” Granger emphasised.
“We need to be more compassionate, more merciful. If you have a President, who is not compassionate or capable of extending mercy, what sort of country are we living in?”
“What sort of country do you want our children to grow up in?” the Head of State continued. “You will be criticised every day but you must be prepared to bring your culture, your values, your religious faith, your beliefs, your spirit of compassion into the functioning of this Advisory Council and let those values permeate society.”
He urged that school children understand that they can be friendly with teachers and that they are not at war. He urged that political parties realise that they don’t have to fight each other.
“This is the spirit, I want to feel, that this Council would spread; that we are not at war with each other. We should show greater compassion to persons who might have fallen foul to the law. To youngsters, who might have committed some offence, give them a break. Give them a second chance.”
Article 189 (1) of the Constitution goes on to provide for the establishment of an Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, which shall consist of the Minister and Attorney General, along with not less than three and not more than five other persons who shall be appointed by the President and of whom one shall be a person who is a qualified medical practitioner.
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