Presidential two term limit challenge seeks answers – Allicock …debunks theory by APNU’s Harmon
Joseph Harmon
Joseph Harmon

ATTORNEY-at-Law, Shaun Allicock has debunked the allegation by Chairman of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Joseph Harmon that former President Bharat Jagdeo is behind the constitutional challenge to the two-term limit signed into law in 2001. Allicock in a letter to the media stated that the action was taken to seek answers to questions he believes should be asked. Allicock wrote, “With respect to the legal challenge before the court, my recollection is that this question was first raised by Mr. Ralph Ramkarran SC. Once raised, unless the question is frivolous, it is compulsory that such an important question be determined by the court to have certainty and finality on the issue. It is wrong and unfair to have the people of Guyana believe there is a two-term limitation, if in fact there is no such limitation because the amendment was unconstitutional.”

Harmon, accusing Jagdeo of being the mastermind of the challenge, said, “Jagdeo is hiding behind surrogates to push his programme, he hasn’t come forward, he doesn’t have the belly, he doesn’t have the guts to come forward and say look I want to have another term. He is using some attorneys and you can see the quality of the persons who have actually filed the matter on his behalf.”
The former President had issued a formal statement through the Office of the President delivered by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon last week stating his disinterest in holding any elected or constitutional post in Guyana.
The Opposition political parties have continued to express suspicion and fears for the return of the former President in the election bid of the Peoples Progressive Party in the run-up to the May 11 poll.
Reminding Harmon, who is also an attorney-at-law of the ethics of the profession, Allicock stated “I expect lawyers however to deal with the legal issues …former President Bharrat Jagdeo is not the client, but even if he were the client, what is horrific, is that Mr. Harmon, a high-ranking member of the Opposition and an attorney-at-law, would wish to deny a citizen of Guyana the most fundamental of rights, the right to access the court to have a judicial determination of a constitutional question which concerns him or her by attacking and attempting to intimidate the lawyers who bring the action.”
The attorney-at-law in his own defence reminded of his involvement in other constitutional actions including the Esther Pereira election petition filed after the 1997 General and Regional Elections with the late leader of the People’s National Congress, Hugh Desmond Hoyte as lead council. He claimed to be a member of the team along with Basil Williams, Roysdale Forde, Emily Dodson and others who presented the Veronica Delph election petition.
Allicock filed the constitutional challenge in the name of Cedric Richardson challenging the Presidential term limit. The Attorney General and the Speaker of the National Assembly are the named defendants in the action.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.