Dear Editor,

ATTENTION is being given to the statement made by the government legal adviser, the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, that Ramon Gaskin is not a lawyer, and therefore cannot pronounce on a constitutional matter.

As a citizen who is not only protected by the constitution, but is bound in my civic duty to uphold this supreme instrument, such a statement is disturbing. Laws are made for the citizens; they are written in a manner that the least educated among us can understand them, not only to safeguard their well-being, but also in ensuring their civic duty in maintaining order in society.

What distinguishes a lawyer from a non-lawyer is that a lawyer is a person who would have spent the time to acquire a legal education and certification to practise at the bar.

At the same time, it ought to be said that lawyers are not the only ones allowed to lead evidence in court. We see, every day in the courts, non-lawyers leading evidence, and those persons range from police ranks to citizens who do not have the means to retain a lawyer, or they refuse to retain one, something which the law allows for.

The perception that only lawyers can speak to matters of law is false. For the very premise undermines the spirit and intent of making laws for the people and the people’s responsibility to obey the law. This aids in understanding the truism that there is no excuse for breaking the law, given it is expected that everyone would be au fait with the law.

The Government of Guyana stands to gain when every citizen knows the law, because it aids in the delivery of governance. Ignorance of the law on the part of the people makes governance harder, and allows rogue elements in and out of government to run roughshod over the people.

Regards,
LINCOLN LEWIS