The IAC has a constitutional right to free speech

Nov 07, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor;
I am a member of the Indian Action Committee (IAC) and I believe that the letter written by Mr. Abel Seetaram (KN- November 3, 2016) who claims to be a APNU+AFC Regional Councillor, is questioning unfairly the action of the IAC in writing about the use of the headquarters of the Guyana Defence Force at Camp Ayanganna for the holding of Cabinet meetings. I am quite aware that the IAC has built up a very large following since its establishment in April 2003, mainly due to the organisation’s successful activities and programs held in the counties of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice.
I wish to express my extreme disappointment with the contents of the letter in which Mr. Seetaram displayed a complete lack of understanding of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. During my long association with the IAC and having been fortunate to have associated with the many intellectuals of the organisation, I was introduced to the Constitution and therefore I am taking this opportunity to educate Mr. Seetaram by pointing him to Article 146 (one) which states that “Except with his or her own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom of expression, that is to say, freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference and freedom from interference with his or her correspondence.”
It is my belief that the organisation has the right to speak which is guaranteed by Article 146 of the Constitution. If Mr. Seetaram, who is of Indo-Guyanese origin, wishes to obtain information from the IAC, he is welcomed to visit the organisation’s office in Cummings Lodge at any time. Unlike Mr. Seetaram, I am highly concerned with the government having Cabinet meetings at Camp Ayanganna given the long history of the involvement of the GDF in politics during the Burnham period.
I have noticed that the Minister of State claimed that the building housing the Ministry of the Presidency and the headquarters of the Guyana Defence Force at Camp Ayanganna are the only secure places where Cabinet meetings can be held. Finally, I have an important question for Mr. Seetaram; should you not be very concerned about the statement made by the Minister of State because if the Cabinet, which includes several former GDF officers, can feel safe only at these two locations in Guyana, where then can the rest of the Guyanese population feel safe?
Devanand Persaud
IAC Member

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