A brave CJ and the shooting of Dr. O’Toole

Feb 03, 2019 Features / Columnists, The Story within the Story

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By Leonard Gildarie

The last few weeks, following that shocking December 21st no-confidence vote by Member of Parliament, Charrandass Persaud, the political landscape has changed in Guyana.
The threats and an evening attack on the principal of School of the Nations have raised a deeply worrying issue that will have to be nipped in the bud, unless we want the horrors of a number of US school shootings be visited on us.
With regards to that vote, there are lots of positives coming, and of course, some that are not good.
I am a stickler for systems…that work. We have to ensure that our courts work, and without fear and favour, deliver their judgments. It is the foundation of every powerful country. We have to ensure that our regulators are equipped and empowered to not only monitor, but enforce the laws.
In the last three years, we have had several organizations being activated, with new commissioners and heads appointed. We have a new Commissioner of Police. We have a Local Government Commission in place and the Procurement Commission up and running. We have new life in the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
I can’t recall when last so many police ranks have been charged and placed before the courts. GTT has come in the firing line of the PUC.
The Local Government Commission is headed by Mortimer Mingo, a known supporter of the Coalition Government. Yet, when it came to considering the future of former Town Clerk, Royston King, he and a few commissioners, in the absence of the Opposition representatives, made the hard decision recently to send King home.

A DEFINING MOMENT
This Government, to its credit, has appointed the Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George, to that position. We have seen major decisions made in the courts in the last 24 months that are not necessarily in favour of the government.
The rulings of the CJ on Thursday must be hailed as a defining moment in the history of this country.
For hours, Justice George delivered concise rulings in which she insisted on the sensitivity of the matters before her on the no-confidence motion.
Elements of the Government, much to their credit, have urged that the decision of the judge be respected. That spells maturity.
The Government has also announced its intentions to appeal the rulings, all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice.
There is nothing wrong in seeking recourse…the Court of Appeal and CCJ are there for that.
On the other hand, there is preparation underway by both the Coalition Government and the Opposition for early elections. There are differing views of that 90-day timeline for holding elections as a consequence of the no-confidence vote.
The People’s Progressive Party has started its meetings.
On Friday, the Coalition launched its campaign team and public meetings have reportedly started.
This year will not be an easy one for Guyana. We will be witnessing and experiencing probably the most critical of elections in our history. It will be defining, because we will be choosing the managers of our oil industry for the next five years. The stakes are high.
Anything can happen.
On the political side, PPP’s presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali, was advised not to travel to Canada to conduct campaign work, as he must explain to the authorities in that country the 19 charges before him in the courts.
In a nutshell, we can stand tall and give kudos to our constitutional bodies and courts who were not afraid to render rulings and decisions that may be contrary to what the powers that be wanted.
We have an obligation to ourselves and this country to demand that our leaders deliver.
We have to ask them to provide the good life we deserve.
Our gold, diamond, bauxite, timber, fish and lands all belong to us. When we sell them or lease the lands, we are expected to collect a fair share. We can expect nothing less. When we fail to collect, then we are working against the country.
So while the contemplations will be for us to vote in traditional manner, for the parties our grandmothers, grandfathers and mothers and fathers voted for, it will be timely to remind ourselves that the power of the vote in the polling booths lies with us.
We have to insist that our politicians, as our representatives, deliver. Let them know that failure on their mandates to deliver is not an option.

A MAJOR PROBLEM BREWING
There is also a major problem brewing that has spilled over and has parents deeply worried. Someone has threatened to shoot up the School of the Nations, located on New Market Street. I did comment on this last week.
Shockingly, last Sunday night, following an emergency meeting at the school with parents, the principal, Dr. Brian O’Toole was attacked at his Bel Air Promenade home and shot twice. He was hospitalized.
Since then, further threats saw police searching two top schools, Queen’s College and The Bishops High. For the entire week, School of the Nations had its gates closed.
Parents have been calling. A number of them are seeking other schools.
There is technology now that can trace things. We have people here with the expertise.
There is a digital footprint for every post on social media and for every email sent.
We will not tolerate such cowardly behaviour in this country. There will be punishment.
It is unthinkable that a student or two can hold a school at ransom. It will be unforgivable if we don’t put a stop to this.

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