MINISTER of State Joseph Harmon ‘trashed’ Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo during a well-attended community outreach meeting in Clonbrook on the East Coast of Demerara, as he defended President David Granger’s appointment of Retired High Court Judge, Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
Stating that the Opposition Leader has been spewing lies in an attempt to discredit the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government, Minister Harmon, in the presence of Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, did not hold back on Saturday when he addressed the GECOM appointment at the Clonbrook Primary School before a huge crowd.

Stating the facts of the matter, Minister Harmon, from the outset said that President Granger’s appointment of Justice Patterson as Chairman of GECOM is in keeping with the Constitution, noting that he went beyond the call of duty.
“He has gone beyond what any other President has done to describe the characteristics, or what he understands to be meant by fit and proper,” Harmon told the cheering crowd.
It was noted that despite the efforts of the President, the opposition leader nevertheless provided three unacceptable lists with a total of 18 nominees, as he continued to prolong the process.

It was on this note that the State Minister rubbished claims by the opposition that the President acted “unilaterally” and “undemocratically,” when in fact he held at least three consultations with the opposition leader, discussing in detail the characteristics of nominees for the post must possess.
Minister Harmon recalled that during the last meeting with the opposition leader, President Granger made it clear that he would no longer put on hold the business of the country, and as such, resorted to appointing a chairman as allowed by Article 161 (2) of the constitution.
“Mr. Jagdeo has to understand that he is not the President of this country. He is not the President of Guyana,” Harmon told the villagers, who in response shouted, “he is the opposition leader, and there he must stay.”

In retaliation for the appointment, the opposition leader with the backing of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), threatened to withdraw from the National Borders Commission and adopt a non-cooperative approach towards the government.
“Don’t matter what happens in a country, once you are talking about borders and territorial integrity, you come together,” Minister Harmon said, while positing that Jagdeo’s action is not surprising.
“It reminded us that when he was in office, when he was President, one of the things he said he was going to do to settle the border issue, was to give Venezuela a piece of land,” Harmon recalled.

“What kind of man is that?” the State Minister questioned, as he reminded the villagers of the many occasions when the former President lied to Guyana, including the time when he misled the nation on his marital status.
Unlike Jagdeo, Minister Harmon said, President Granger is an upright man of God who respects the rights of women to be empowered and implored those in the audience to remain resolute and focus on the future, despite the distractions being created by the opposition.

“In 2018 we are going to have Local Government Elections again…and you will have an opportunity to again elect the leaders in your community that you want. So that if the NDC is not working, you could throw them out,” Minister Harmon remarked.
Similarly, he said, President Granger has given the country the assurance that National and Regional Elections will also be held when they are constitutionally due.
Speaking passionately, Minister Broomes recalled that it was not so long ago that the APNU+AFC Government under the leadership of President Granger restored local democracy when Local Government Elections were held on March 16, 2016.
“We don’t want to control, we are putting powers in the hands of the people,” Minister Broomes said to loud rounds of applause.
Cautioning that they should be wary of naysayers, the Natural Resources Minister urged the people to be watchful. “People let us keep mobilised, and organised and let us be watchful.”

Speaking directly to her women folk, Minister Broomes declared that no longer are women being suppressed as their issues are now being placed on the front burner.
“Women embrace each other, stand with your government, stand with your children. Your government is for you, your government is with you and your government will stay with you. We ain’t going nowhere and leave you,” Minister Broomes assured them
The community meeting was also attended by the Region Four Chairman, Genevieve Allen and Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI,) Dr. Richard Van-West Charles among other regional and local officials.