– Canadian Govt. expresses disappointment

THE Government of Canada has joined the United States of America in condemning the National Assembly’s decision to recognise former Member of Parliament Abdul Kadir, a convicted terrorist. The Guyanese Government, while maintaining that the motion was not intended to honour Kadir as a terrorist but rather as a Member of Parliament, has signaled a willingness to examine the policy of honoring past MPs.

On Wednesday, the Canadian Government added its voice to the situation, and said it was disappointed. “Canada is disappointed that members of Guyana’s National Assembly have paid tribute to former MP Abdul Kadir, a convicted terrorist,” the Canadian Government said in a brief statement.
At the National Park on the sideline of the Labour Day Rally, Minister of Social Protection, and Government’s Chief Whip in the National Assembly, Amna Ally, told reporters that there was nothing sinister about the motion, but said given the concerns that have arisen the Government may review the policy of paying homage to deceased MPs.

“We will have to re-examine and look at it. I am not saying, well it is a done deal but now that this has surfaced, maybe we can look (it),” Minister Ally told reporters.

However, the Chief Whip maintained that the April 26 motion was intended to express sympathy to the sorrowing wife, children and relatives of the late Kadir, and to recognise his contributions to society while serving as a Member of Parliament. This, she emphasized, is in keeping with parliamentary practice. “It has no link to any terrorism, corruption or anything else,” she assured reporters. According to her, the U.S is fully aware of Guyana’s position on Terrorism.

“It is a situation which has arisen and we have dealt with it because the U.S is aware that we do not support terrorism, we will not support terrorism. I mean, it is an unfortunate situation but it has happened,” the Chief Whip said.

Minister Ally said while the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has condemned the move to acknowledge Kadir’s contributions as a MP, it was only recently that the said National Assembly paid tribute to former minister and ambassador of the PPP administration, Ronald Gajraj.

“Ronald Gajraj was fingered in so many things, killings and massacres…we did not use that against them,” she posited while noting that because he had served in the National Assembly, a motion was passed to express sympathy to his sorrowing relatives. Minister Ally also made reference to Isahak Bashir, who was also honoured on April 27, although he was expelled from the National Assembly for hurling a glass bottle at the then Speaker, Sase Narine. Nonetheless, given the concerns, the Social Protection Minister said Government may review the policy of honoring deceased MPs.

On Tuesday, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, disclosed that he drafted the motion of sympathy following the passing of Kadir, in keeping with local parliamentary practice.

Isaacs explained that local parliamentary practice dictates that, whenever a former or sitting Member of Parliament dies, the Clerk of the National Assembly is to draft a motion of sympathy. The draft motion, he said, must be sent to the party of the deceased for its assent. “Notice is then given by the party for the motion to be an item on the Order Paper,” Isaacs further explained.

In the case of Kadir, the parliamentary practice was observed, though he died in a US prison while serving a life sentence for plotting to blow up the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

The motion read: “Be it Resolved: That this National Assembly records its deep regret on the death of Mr. Abdul Kadir, on 28th June, 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 17th April, 2001 to 2nd May, 2006, and to the people of Guyana:
“Be it further Resolved: That the National Assembly directs that an expression of its sympathy be conveyed to his sorrowing widow, children and relatives.”

The Clerk clarified that the debate on sympathy motions is intended to acknowledge the contributions of the late Members to the Parliament and to the people of Guyana. “It is done with no other intent. It should be further noted that the motion on the death of the late Mr. Kadir was innocently drafted by the Clerk, as has been the convention in circumstances of death of former or sitting Members,” the Clerk stated.

He expressed profound regret for any unintentional offense the course of action may have caused. On Monday, the Government made it clear that it never intended to honour terrorism in any way when it approved a motion to remember Kadir. 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.