I was maliciously misquoted in the Guyana Chronicle

Jan 18, 2019 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

When I received a phone call from a female Guyana Chronicle reporter on Wednesday evening, my defences immediately went up. This is a newspaper that is hostile to the PPP/C and its leadership, and has repeatedly omitted to publish the many letters I have being sending to that editor. And to further compromise their lack of credibility and objectivity, they are willing to publish slanderous statements about me.
The moment the Chronicle reporter introduced herself, I knew I had to be careful of what I said to her for I did not want to be misquoted. I was also aware of the subject she wanted to discuss, as many believe that I possess dual citizenship. I do not, and I made this very clear to her.
When I was asked about the status of other PPP/C MPs, I referred her to our Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira. She told me she had tried but was unable to reach her. I then suggested that she attend the press conference being held by the Leader of the Opposition the following day, Thursday, January 17, to get the answers that she’s looking for.
Editor, in a sensational piece, “Several PPP MPs have dual citizenship”, the reporter wrote, “The MP said he fully agrees with retired judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Duke Pollard that the National Assembly of Members of Parliament should be cleared of all MPs with dual citizenship. Gill said there should be no cherry picking of the laws, and as such, MPs with dual citizenship should do the honourable thing and step down.”
I categorically deny agreeing with retired CCJ judge Duke Pollard as reported, as it relates to his belief that “Parliament should be cleared of all MPs with dual citizenship.” And any reference I may have made about “doing the honourable thing” and stepping down, was totally sensationalized to give the wrong impression. I had just brought to her attention a duplicitous remark made during an AFC press conference, in which the member was asked, “What are the implications of the other MPs with dual citizenship?” To which the member replied that the case brought against Charrandass in the High Court would only apply to him, and said, “You would probably have to bring another case against the rest.”
I reminded her that Ministers Joseph Harmon and Carl Greenidge had both admitted to having dual citizenship, and suggested they should do the honourable thing and step down. This is very different to what is being reported.
All journalists should be guided by the professional ethics of that noble profession. But it is evident that the Guyana Chronicle has been contaminated by government who uses that medium to peddle their propaganda.
The newspaper’s reporter maliciously misquoted me.
I am a proud citizen of Guyana who remigrated after spending over 23 years in the good ‘ole USA as a permanent resident. After my children’s dependency period had ended, I returned home in 2012 in hopes of making a meaningful contribution to the land of my birth. I have never returned since, and have deliberately caused my “Green Card” to expire. I am the holder of one valid passport, issued to me by the Government of Guyana. I will forever be grateful to the People’s Progressive Party for giving me the opportunity to serve my country and her people as a Member of Parliament.
My personal views on dual citizenship are as follows:
We live in a democracy where the Constitution is our supreme law. Guyana is but a budding developing country when compared to the industrialized nations of the world. It is estimated that there are more Guyanese living in the diaspora than in Guyana itself. It is also an undisputed fact that Guyanese living abroad are generally more exposed, educated and experienced. As a third-world country, we must find attractive ways to tap-in to those human resources by attracting more and more Guyanese to return home to serve. The remigrant scheme is one such incentive offered. But the political maturity that Guyanese acquire living abroad cannot be ignored if Guyana is to progress. Perhaps in recognition of this, the laws governing dual citizenship have not been strictly enforced by all administrations.
Since the Charrandass vote, Members of Parliament with known dual citizenship are being branded as unpatriotic and having allegiance to foreign countries. Hogwash! Once a Guyanese, always a Guyanese! Ministers Greenidge and Harmon may be guilty of contributing to the visionless policies of this government, and Gail Teixeira may be guilty of fearlessly exposing government corruption, but that has nothing to do with their patriotism and loyalty to Guyana and her people.
Minister Harmon once risked his life serving this nation in the Guyana Defence Force, you can’t be more patriotic than that.
Perhaps when we finally get down to constitutional reform, we can find common ground to allow resourceful patriotic Guyanese an opportunity to serve, even though they may also have a foreign passport.
My concern is the duplicitous action being taken by government to brand Charrandass as a traitor in pursuing charges to nullify his vote because he has dual citizenship. What Charrandass Persaud did was to alleviate the sufferings of the Guyanese people. He did not do it for Canada. In my books Charrandass Persaud is a brave man and a patriot. I hope the Guyana Chronicle will have the decency to publish this letter, unedited, in its next edition. These are my personal views!

Harry Gill

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