– just to uphold long-held tradition of remembering deceased MPs, gov’t says
– as US condemns Motion recognising Kadir’s work

THE Government of Guyana has made it clear that it never intended to honour terrorism in any way when it approved a motion to remember deceased Members of Parliament, at the April 26th sitting of the National Assembly.

Government said it was merely upholding a time-honoured tradition in the house and “had no intention of conveying the impression that the motion was designed to honour former MP, Abdul Kadir, convicted of terrorism in the United States.

The United States (US) Embassy has since condemned the motion passed in the National Assembly to recognise the contributions of the late Kadir, on the grounds that he was a convicted terrorist but the Government of Guyana said that its action is being interpreted incorrectly. “The Government of Guyana asserts that it had no intention of conveying the impression that the motion was designed to honour a former MP convicted of terrorism in another jurisdiction. The motion recognises the member’s service as a parliamentarian,” the Government said on Monday.

Government’s statement was made after the U.S Embassy condemned the motion. Describing the resolution as “an insensitive and thoughtless act,” the U.S Embassy contended that the motion demonstrates the National Assembly’s disregard for the gravity of Kadir’s actions.

It pointed out that, just recently, U.S. Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch, rated Guyana as “a model to the world on religious tolerance and understanding” at an International Peace Conference but said the resolution draws into question that reputation.

“It also comes on the heels of Guyana’s historic cooperation with the United States on the extradition of an alleged murderer,” and according to the embassy, Members of Parliament have placed the resolution in direct contradiction to the efforts of security cooperation between our two countries. “With this resolution, honoring a convicted terrorist, members of Guyana’s National Assembly have left a stain on their legacy as representatives of the Guyanese people and on their commitment to the rule of law,” the U.S Embassy stated.
On Friday, the National Assembly moved a motion to recognise Kadir’s work as a Parliamentarian, and to express sympathy to his relatives. The motion read: “Be it resolved, that this National Assembly records its deep regret on the death of Mr. Abdul Kadir, on June 28, 2018, and pays tribute to his dedicated service to the Parliament of Guyana as a Member of Parliament where he served in the Eighth Parliament, from April 17, 2001 to May 2, 2006, and to the people of Guyana.”

Kadir died in a US prison while serving a life sentence for plotting to blow up the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

But the Government said motion was in keeping with the norms and practice of the Parliament of Guyana, and made it clear that it was never intended to glorify the work of a terrorist. “It is well known that there is a time-honoured convention of the National Assembly to observe, in a standard and solemn form, the work of former Members who are deceased. The observance of this tradition has never been selective, and has included, over the decades, persons of all political parties and persuasions who served in the National Assembly,” the Government said.

However, it said it regrets the interpretation given to the motion passed in the National Assembly on the death of Kadir as a Member of Parliament. “The Government of Guyana continues to condemn terrorism in the strongest possible way. The Government of Guyana reaffirms its commitment to continue and intensify the fight against terrorism in any form and is proud of its record to date in this regard,” the Government stated.